Open call: Sound and Music Commission 2025 opportunity

The British Council is inviting applications from composers and music creators based in Official Development Assistance (ODA)-listed countries for the Sound and Music Commission 2025, a unique international collaboration with UK-based composers.

Interested artists should apply before 23 June

This initiative aims to create new radio works that explore contemporary themes through sound and music, with broadcasts scheduled for autumn 2025 on partner radio stations, including the UK’s experimental broadcaster Resonance FM.

In this project, three composers from ODA countries will be paired with three UK-based composers selected by Sound and Music, the UK’s national organisation for new music. Each pair will collaboratively develop and produce a new radio work. Each participating composer will receive a commission fee of £1 500 (about $2 030). The format, process, and content of the final pieces will be determined jointly by the composer pairs.

This collaboration will be promoted through international music conferences, festivals, and cultural networks, with a strong focus on artistic exchange, cross-cultural learning, and showcasing new music as a powerful medium for shaping and reflecting global experiences.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must:

• Be aged 18 or older by 1 May 2025.

• Be based in one of the following ODA-listed countries: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, or Vietnam.

• Have an active artistic practice in sound and/or music (all genres are welcome, with a particular interest in classical, contemporary, or sound art).

• Be enthusiastic about creating collaborative new work for radio.

  
  

This opportunity offers a platform for artistic experimentation, cultural dialogue and innovation in sound. If you are a passionate music creator ready to co-create with peers from across the world, we encourage you to apply.

Interested artists should apply here(link is external) before 23 June.

View the original call here(link is external)