Open Call for Sound Artists

June 14, 2018
Author Echo Gone Wrong
Published in Calls from Lithuania

34415906_168805350481774_6347053419638816768_oMatters_, a Kaunas 2022 platform for industrial culture, is announcing a call out for sound artists, experimental musicians, industrial music composers, sound collectors and others to participate in a 2 week sound residency to take place through 10 – 24 August 2018 in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Through 2018 Matters. Platform for Industrial Culture hosts a series of residencies for sound artists that are in pursuit of exploring sounds of the urban space, interested in field recording, sound – walking, noise of and in industrial spaces. We are eager to explore concrete, abandoned industrial sites, underground, railroads, transport, decay and pretty much everything in the city from the sound perspective.

Matters_ offers:
Accommodation is provided in the very centre of the city, which makes the commute easy. The flat as well as the studio space are separated by approx. 6 meters distance, and find themselves on the 4th floor of an historic building. (Please note that unfortunately, accessibility infrastructure is still under construction, therefore neither apartment nor studio are wheelchair accessible.)
The flat is studio-type space with separate bathroom and WC, equipped with two individual beds (thus a residency might host an artist duo), an induction-type hotplate, mini-fridge, cutlery and kitchen-ware, big wardrobe, one standard writing table, one round table, two chairs, bed linen and towels.
Studio, which is six steps away from the flat, is a long multi-purpose studio, used for performance, dance and a variety of other art practices (please note that it is by no means a recording studio). It has a stereo speaker system and a 6 channel audio mixer.
Matters_ residency can only provide the artist with the access to a university based recording studio (subject to prior agreement). However, we strongly advise to use the city as your canvasing area, and not lock yourself away at the studio.
The artist invited will have the possibility to make field recordings or perform in a 100 m long underground tunnel in one of the fortifications of the city [for more information see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaunas_Fortress.

Selected artist will be provided with:
– 500 euros stipend
– reimbursement of travel expenses of up to 200 euros
– accommodation (studio type apartment, two single beds) and studio space
– support with location scouting and developing the final work and presentation (see below)
– technical assistance

Matters_ asks in return:
Each artist participating in the Matters_ residency is asked to leave a (sound) track, of a duration no less than 5 and no longer than 15 min long (exceptions are possible upon mutual agreement), which will be part of the compilation album to be released by the end of the year 2018. The album will consist only of the works prepared during the residency period (the final track must be delivered by the end of the residency).
Each artist is asked to create a moment of public sharing during their residency period: it might be a sound workshop or a live concert. The form thereof is discussed and confirmed prior to the arrival of the resident.

Materials to send in, deadlines and selection:
The materials will be accepted upon the opening of the call on 4th June until midnight of 24th June. Please email you application all in one .pdf file to matters(a)kaunas2022(dot)eu and indicate “Residency application” in the subject line. The application should consist of two parts:
(1) your motivation letter (in English is fine), including your aims and plans for this short residency (up to 1 A4 sheet);
(2) description of your practice, with links to your bandcamp / soundcloud / mixcloud / social media / personal website etc. (no attachments will be considered, please link to all and any materials you want us to consider) (up to 2 A4 sheets).

We are willing to be as considerate as possible of all those that have difficulties with text: if you experience difficulties writing, please prepare a video of up to 10 minutes containing all of the aforementioned information, and send us the link to it (please be considerate and don’t send the video itself) in the body of the email, adding links to your sound-work for us to consider. The address to send these links in is matters(a)kaunas2022(dot)eu, please indicate “Video application for residency” in the subject line.

The results will be announced on the 2nd of July to (the) selected artist(s) as well as on the social profile of the Matters_ program on social media.