Call for Works /
Artists in Residence

UNM 2022 - Open Call

 

Jump to:

Call for works | Call for artists in residence

UNM calls for composers, musicians, artists and collectives from and/or based in the Nordic and Baltic countries under the age of 30 to participate in the UNM festival in Reykjavík 2022. This year, the application process will be twofold. In addition to the traditional Call for works, where applicants can submit an existing piece to be showcased at the festival, this open call includes for the first time a Call for artists-in-residence. Each country will send up to 7 representative projects in total; 4 existing works to be presented at the festival and 3 individuals to the artist residency (be they individual artists or collaborating duos or trios) who will create new works for the festival.

About the Calls

Ung Nordisk Musik (UNM) calls for both works and artists-in-residence for the 2022 festival in Reykjavík. UNM is a festival of contemporary music and sound art organized in turn by each of the five Nordic countries. UNM was established in 1946, making it one of the oldest festivals of its kind in the world. The festival presents works created by composers and sound artists under 30 years old that are from or based in the Nordic countries. Overall, the festival brings together Nordic artists’ network and varied insight into the current Nordic art music scene.

This year’s call will be twofold. Four works will be selected from each participating country via the Call for Works and three applications will be selected for the Call for artists-in-residence to create new works to be premiered at the festival. The residency takes place in March 2022 in Reykjavík, Iceland. All musicians and creators are encouraged to apply for the residency, which is specifically catered to artists who work collaboratively, site specifically, and/or in a multidisciplinary manner. The residency call is open to both individuals and small groups and are both treated as single applicants. Applicants can apply to both calls.

Call for Works

UNM calls for works to be performed at UNM in Reykjavík, 15th - 20th of August 2022. This call is open to any artist or artist collective age 30 or younger, who are citizens or residents of a Nordic country, and work with music or sound as the primary element of their work. The works will be selected by a country specific jury. We encourage all creators working within the context of music to send in works, be they ensemble pieces, solo works, installations, audio-visual works, music-theatre, etc.

Terms & Conditions

  1. Applicants shall be age 30 or younger by the time of application. An exception to the age requirement is made if the applicant is studying at the bachelor level in a program related to music and/or art (for the first time). Applicants must be a citizen or resident of Denmark.

  2. All applications must be anonymous. Please ensure that all names, dedications and performer information are erased from all scores, media, metadata, etc. Applicants will also be asked to send personal information which will only be seen by the boards of UNM and used for administrative purposes.

  3. Applicants can participate in a total of five UNM festivals, regardless of which country they participate with. Therefore a Danish citizen residing in Iceland can not participate five times for Denmark and another five times for Iceland. If an applicant can for some reason apply on behalf of more than one country, they are only permitted to apply for one, else both applications will be disqualified.

  4. The selection of works made by an independent jury of 3 professional composers/musicians. The selection of works made by the jury will be altered according to gender quotas if necessary. If at least at least two male and two non-male composers have been awarded points by the jury, at least two male and two non-male composers will be offered places at the festival.

  5. Each applicant may send a total of 2 works, unless they also apply to the residency, then applicants may only send 1 work.

  6. Composers / sound artists, who do not write scores, are encouraged also to send a description of the artistic ideas in the submitted work. (Max one A4-page per work.) (NOTE: The description has to be in English!)

  7. ANONYMOUS material must be in digital form (remember to delete all metadata!):
    Send all materials to (.pdf/mp3/mp4 etc, either as an attachment or via dropbox/wetransfer) together with a completed application form to: apply@ungnordiskmusik.dk

  8. Additionally, applicants may nominate a juror for next year’s call in their application.

  9. A total of 4 works will be selected from each participating country: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden (Baltic artists may only apply for the residency).

  10. There are no criteria for ensemble size etc. UNM Iceland commits to producing a performance or exhibition of all selected works, however we can not offer a full symphony orchestra for the 2022 festival. Instead, a flexibly sized sinfonietta will be available.

  11. The application deadline is June 15th 2021 at 23:59 GMT

Link for application form

 

Call for Artists-in-residence

UNM Iceland calls for artists or artist collectives that are under 30 years old and are based in or from a Nordic or Baltic country. The call is open to any artist interested in participating in a residency to create new works that will be premiered at the UNM festival in Reykjavik, August 15-20 2022. There is no criteria about artistic practices; artists who fit the aforementioned criteria and are interested in working in the context of music and sound are welcome to apply.

The selected artists will attend a 10-day residency in Reykjavik from 5-13 of March 2022. Four established artists will support the artists-in-residence as mentors/coaches. Each mentor brings their distinct artistic practice and experience. Selected artists will choose a mentor they wish to work with at the start of the residency. Residency artists are furthermore encouraged to collaborate with other artists-in-residence on their projects.

Artists will be selected based on an anonymous motivation letter. Below is a detailed description of the residency along with artistic statements from each mentor.

Terms & Conditions

  1. Applicants are individuals or 2-3 person groups of collaborating artists.

  2. Applicants shall be age 30 or younger by the time of application. An exception to the age requirement is made if the applicant is studying at the bachelor level in a program related to music and/or art (for the first time). They must be citizens or residents of any of the participating UNM countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, or Sweden.

  3. Applicants will send a detailed, anonymous statement of intent describing their work, methods and how they wish to work during the residency, along with personal details which will only be seen by the boards of UNM and used for administrative purposes.

    1. The statement shall be written in English. We will however accept applications in any official language of the participating countries if English is not an option.

  4. Applicants will be selected by a common jury for all participating countries. Applicants may send in one application. Applicants may participate in a maximum of 5 UNM festivals.
    A total of 3 individuals will be selected to represent each delegation of UNM (possible combinations: three individual artists; one individual artist + one duo; one trio, with the exception of the Baltic countries where a maximum of 3 persons can represent the Baltic countries in total, 1 person from each country (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).

  5. If circumstances allow, UNM may choose to admit more individuals to the residency but never more than three applicants (individuals, duos or trios) per country. (Example: if a trio is selected, UNM may choose to admit two more individuals in addition)

  6. The selection of artists made by the jury will be altered according to gender quotas if necessary. The total ratio between males and non-males may not exceed 2/1.

  7. Applicants can send in applications to both Call for works and Call for artists-in-residence, as long as the maximum number of works/applications is not exceeded by the limit for the country one applies. (Example: The Danish rules state that applicants for the call for works may send in a total of 2 works - applicants for the call for artists-in-residence may thus only send 1 work to the call for works). If an applicant is selected for both calls, the residency call will be prioritized.

  8. Selected applicants will travel to Reykjavík and stay in groups of 3-4 in guesthouse apartments in the city, close to workshop facilities. UNM is committed to fully funding travel and accommodation expenses for all applicants. However, we cannot guarantee full funding at this point, but participants may be eligible for various cultural and travel grants. If this turns out to be the case, applicants’ local UNM boards will assist all participants with grant applications. (Accommodation subject to change).

  9. The application deadline is June 15 2021 at 23:59 GMT

LINK FOR APPLICATION HERE

 

Residency details

The UNM residency will take place in Reykjavík, Iceland from 5th - 13th March 2022. The residency will consist of various activities such as lectures, micro-workshops led by participants, and open spaces for try-outs, as well as workspaces with access to a specific mentor and discussion in smaller groups.

The residency will start out with group activities, speed dates, and mingles. During the first 2 days, the artists will have the chance to introduce themselves, their work, and get to know potential collaborators and mentors, culminating in the forming of collaborative partnerships for the rest of the period. Participants may also collaborate with forces outside of the participating artists-in-residence, for example if they wish to work with an ensemble. This will be arranged on request and availability before the start of the residency.

From the 3rd day onwards, participants will have a dedicated workspace, group of colleagues, and an assigned mentor that they regularly discuss and share ideas with. The mentor’s involvement is intended to facilitate a widely inclusive participant selection and bring to the table a deep knowledge of a range of creative contexts, current working methods and mediums. Their role within the residency is to act as facilitators for the creative process of the different collaborating artists and groups. In addition to their assigned mentor, participants can seek advice from other mentors in dedicated mentor exchange timeslots.

The residency activities will take place at a number of locations. A main hub for common activities will be at the Icelandic University of Arts, which includes rehearsal rooms and a chamber music hall to be used as a common work and performance area. Participants will receive accommodation at short-stay apartments close to the main location at the IUA. Icelandic participants will be expected to arrange their own homestay, but those who do not live in the capital area will be able to stay at the same accommodation as other Nordic participants.

Mentor statements

  • Mentor A

I am a composer, performer, and media artist. My pieces score out sound, video, gesture, lighting, and staging, treating each of these elements as expandable musical materials. A founding philosophy is that anything with a vibration can be music. I am a big proponent of the hands-on approach. Learning through doing. Learning through making happy mistakes and renegotiation.

This workshop is a place where we can finally meet. The focus is on you and finding ways to build community that can last beyond the framework of the residency. The possibilities for skill sharing, tech tutorials, sound walks, seeking out natural phenomena, thrift store hunting, cooking, etc will also be included depending on the needs and desires of the group - but the main focus is to start building a network of support which can flourish through performance and permeate into the future beyond our residency experience.

  • Mentor B

Surrounding sounds and sounding objects (from nature, everyday life, and instruments), space and spatial sound, listening aesthetics, how context and connotations can color how we listen, and how you can communicate with a performer in various non-traditional ways are some of the elements I’m inspired by as a composer and inter-disciplinary artist. With a strong concept being the primary focus I do what I can or learn how to, I use what is or can be available, and I’m not afraid of color outside the lines creating experimental instrumental works, electroacoustic compositions, sound for scenic productions, audiovisual installations, and performances.

As a mentor, I want to create an environment where ideas can blossom and creativity can take form in many different ways. You might have a specific idea on arrival, but I recommend coming to the residency with an open mind - maybe you’ll end up doing exactly what you planned, maybe you’ll do it in a different way, or maybe you’ll end up doing something completely new. The goal will not be the end result, but the process of getting there - hopefully by exploring new ideas, work methods, and materials on the way. I’ll do listening and artistic exercises to spark the creative work by the participants, as well as give insights into my own work process with various media. Depending on the participants I can do composition lessons, technical assistance, and/or short workshops. Field trips to spark creativity is to be expected!

  • Mentor C

I work in creative collaborations that focus on the exploration of telling stories through innovative forms of audiovisual performances. I enjoy focussing on the technical tools necessary to use hardware and software in sometimes unconventional ways and I work with the broader questions about how we respond to phenomena that impact us as personal and social beings. I am a performer / composer / improviser / text artist. I have a passion for extremes.

Every project that artists embark on has specific needs to dig deeper and to move the creative work forward. These needs are dependent on the balance between technique, concept and working methods. Part of my mentorship will be to work on collaboration techniques including leading, following and simply letting the material, your instincts and your imaginations guide you.The other part will be to jump into the nuts and bolts of putting a piece or a project together which may include experimenting with hardware and software, composition coaching, exploring media that you are less familiar with and looking at the methods and practices of others in the field.

  • Mentor D

In my work, I mix audio and visual representations of sound in installations as well as extending to the fields of music and even performing arts. I use technology in my work to translate sound waves into different materials, light, water and more. Many works are aimed at expanding our experience of sound and making us aware of the role of sound in our environment.

I find inspiration in short field trips, spending the night in nature, experiencing the moment when the world goes silent, the birds, the sea, the wind and animals, even the flies. The moment when nature resets itself and a new day begins. Wouldn't it be great to mix that moment with the predetermined moment we set off with at the beginning of the journey?