CALLING ALL MUSICIANS, WRITERS, ARTISTS, STORYTELLERS
Deadline: March 24, 2023
ABOUT THE PROJECT
As Earth tilts towards the Sun, light, growth, and activity are at their peak. Plants lush and expressive stretch into long bright days of gratuitous photosynthetic activity. Animals are awake, insomniac, exploratory—or at rest in shady reprieves. As light increases, so too does the heat: wildfires, sunburns, tired cars overheating on mountain passes. Summer Solstice can be heard in the distance.
Sound of the Sun, Volume I is the first iteration of an ongoing project of sonic-celestial explorations. As days lengthen in the Northern Hemisphere, this project asks participants to consider their relationship to cycles of solar movement: to observe, respond, record, and retell through music, poetry, field recordings, storytelling, and any other audio-based works which speak to this important time of the solar year. The project will culminate in the production of a limited 100-edition, professionally mastered cassette tape, compiled and arranged by co-curators Marisa Kriangwiwat Holmes and Catherine de Montreuil.
HOW IT WILL WORK
We are accepting *pitches only* at this time—an expression of interest outlining your ideas for this project. We welcome you to pitch any sound-related works you might have in mind—music, poetry reading, field recordings, storytelling etc. All expressions of interest must be submitted by March 24, 2023 (details below).
Pitches will be juried by the project curators and UNIT/PITT’s programming committee. Once 6 applicants have been selected, they will be notified and given 5 weeks to submit their completed work—up to 15 minutes of sound. U/P is committed to working with each applicant to ensure they have the support and equipment they need to record their final submission. The work will be edited, arranged, and professionally mastered in consultation with the artists.
The full recording will be broadcast through online platforms, shared to UNIT/PITT’s website and social media, and subsequently produced as a limited-edition cassette tape. Participants will also be considered for potential in-person performances and listening parties in the future. Successful applicants will receive $500, and three copies of the limited-edition cassette recordings.
*Please note: Although we will only be working with 6 participants at this time, all applicants may be considered for future iterations of the Sound of the Sun project.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PITCH
Email submit@unitpitt.ca with a short statement about yourself and your interest in this project (maximum 300 words), curriculum vitae, and 2-5 links to view/read/listen to your work online. Artists who have not previously used sound within their practice are welcome to apply. Using audio for portfolio submissions is highly encouraged, but not required. Any length below a 15 minute maximum is welcomed. Pitches may include previously completed works, works-in-progress, or proposed works. Please do not send works which are copyrighted, unless you have permission to redistribute them.
Deadline to apply is Friday, March 24, at 4:00pm PST.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome by Friday, March 31.
***Please note: If applicants require any technical assistance in assembling their application, please contact us as early as possible before the deadline.
WHO CAN APPLY?
This program is open to artists, musicians, writers, storytellers and cultural practitioners of all ages and stages of their creative careers. While UNIT/PITT prioritizes supporting artists from within our direct community—on the unceded land belonging to the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, also known as Vancouver, BC—we welcome international applicants to consider applying, in order to expand our community across geographical lines.
