Residency A: ICST Studio

Desciption

The ICST Composition Studio is both a workspace and an instrument for artistic research. Designed for Ambisonics – an area the institute has been refining since its founding – it also supports any method that explores sound in space.

The 2026 ICST Studio Residency invites projects that relate sound generation (synthesis, transformation) to spatialisation as a core principle of formal conception and composition. Links between these domains may be e.g. algorithmic, perceptual, timbral, or may treat space itself as a material shaped by sound.

The aim of the ICST Studio Residency is to foster the creation of a work that can be initiated, developed, or completed during the residency. Residents will receive an introduction to the studio, as well as support in defining their working process and using specific technologies. Nevertheless, solid technical skills and experience in studio composition are required.

This year, one of the selected projects will be featured at the SONIC MATTER Festival 2027 in Zurich as part of a new partnership. This will include a presentation and an artist talk. The presentation may take the form of a performance or an installation. The selected work must be completed by 1 November 2026 in order to be included in the festival programme. The festival will take place in the first week of March 2027. A member of the festival’s curatorial team will be part of the selection committee for the ICST Studio Residency.

Applicants are invited to submit a concept and a realisation plan. Sketches in various forms are welcome. The artistic profile will be documented in a portfolio. (See “Conditions, application & selection process”).

ICST Composition Studio

The ICST Composition Studio provides three individual speaker systems: a 3D setting consisting of 17 speakers (5+8+4) for ambisonics and multichannel, a 5.1. system and stereo monitoring. A Mac Pro offers various software such as sequencers, HD recording- and sound tools, MAXMSP/Jitter and PD.

Studio for Composition

Course of the Residency

The residency’s duration is two to three weeks. The available time can be used all at once or split (e.g. a few introductory days in the spring and a longer stay in the summer; or a longer stay in the summer followed by a short stay months later for a final mix. Other schedules are possible). For practical reasons, we propose a longer stay during the summer months (mid-June to mid-August). A definitive schedule will be mutually agreed.

Support

Artists in residence will be supported by Johannes Schütt, ICST studio supervisor.

Presentation

As stated above, one of the selected projects will be featured at the SONIC MATTER Festival 2027. If there is mutual interest, efforts will be made to present and discuss the results of the residencies in a public performance or an artist talk at the ICST. 

Conditions, Application & Selection Process

Applications for the Artists in Residence at ICST program must be submitted using the online form.

This application window is open until 1 September 2025 at 24:00h CET. Candidates will be notified in mid-October 2026. The residencies will be awarded by a jury consisting of ICST researchers and project leaders. 

Please upload the following documents: 

  • Concept sketch, composition idea or project draft (PDF, 2 pages and 10 MB max.)
  • Portfolio containing three selected works relevant to the residency topic, including links to external media (audio & video) (PDF, 2 pages and 10 MB max.)
  • CV in tabular form containing information on education and career (PDF, 1 page and 10 MB max.) 

The selected candidates will be notified by email. Together with the notification, they receive the forms required for an invitation to Switzerland and are kindly asked to confirm their participation and return the filled-out forms within 10 days. If the period of 10 days is not observed, the ICST can withdraw the invitation.

The exact dates for the residencies will be defined individually.

The residencies include the use of facilities and technical infrastructure as specified in the thematic descriptions, as well as technical support by ICST research staff. 

Participants will receive a contribution to their expenses for travel to Zurich (up to CHF 300 for persons living in Europe, up to CHF 500 for persons living outside Europe), as well as a per diem to cover meals and accommodation in Zurich during the residency. Participants organise their own travel and accommodation in Zurich, with ICST providing assistance if required.