Residency A: Spatial Audio

Desciption

The Spatial Audio Residency offers workspaces and infrastructure for artistic creation and research. The ICST Composition Studio, designed for Ambisonics—an area the institute has been developing since its founding—also supports a wide range of approaches for exploring sound in space. A newly developed Wave Field Synthesis (WFS) system provides additional approaches to spatial audio composition.

The 2026 Spatial Audio Residency invites projects that treat spatialization as a core compositional principle, linked, for example, to sound generation (synthesis, transformation), morphology, or temporal organization.

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

One of the selected projects will be featured at the SONIC MATTER Festival 2028 in Zurich as part of an ongoing partnership. This will include a presentation and an artist talk. The presentation may take the form of either a performance or an installation. A member of the festival’s curatorial team will serve on the selection committee. The SONIC MATTER Festival 2028 will take place during 2–5 March 2028.

Applicants are invited to submit a concept and a realization plan. Sketches in various forms are welcome. The artistic profile should be documented in a portfolio (see “Conditions, Application & Selection Process”)

Spatial Audio Facilities at ICST

The Spatial Audio Residency offers three options across two different spaces:

  • Ambisonics / multichannel (at the ICST Composition Studio)
  • Wave Field Synthesis (at the ICST Labor)
  • A combination of Ambisonics / multichannel and Wave Field Synthesis (at the ICST Labor)

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

The Wave Field Synthesis system consists of eight 32-channel modules, for a total of 256 individually addressable loudspeakers. The modules can be used in any number and in different configurations. Wave Field Synthesis occupies a unique position among spatial rendering techniques, as it can produce hologram-like sound images within a room using focused sources. Moreover, by synthesizing sound field radiation patterns, WFS enables a consistent perception of sound location throughout the entire space. This eliminates the typical “sweet spot” issue, where the rendered spatial scene can only be experienced within a limited central area.

In case of a combination of Ambisonics / multichannel and Wave Field Synthesis systems an additional ambisonics dome will be installed in the ICST Labor.

ICST Composition Studio
ICST Labor with Wave Field Synthesis Set-Up

Course of the Residency

The residency lasts two to three weeks and can be taken as a single block or split across multiple visits. We recommend scheduling the main period during the summer months (mid-June to mid-August). The residency selected for SONIC MATTER will most likely take place immediately prior to the SONIC MATTER Festival 2028. The final schedule will be agreed upon mutually.

Support

Artists in residence will receive support throughout the residency. The selection of supporting staff will be based on the specific needs of the chosen projects.

Presentation

As stated above, one of the selected projects will be featured at the SONIC MATTER Festival 2028. The project selected for presentation at SONIC MATTER will be communicated as part of the residency confirmation.

If there is mutual interest, efforts will be made to present and discuss the results of other residencies in a public performance or an ICST Artist Talk.

Conditions, Application & Selection Process

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

The deadline for applications is 1 September 2026 at 24:00h CET. Candidates will be notified during the second half of 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 of CHF 180 to cover meals and accommodation in Zurich during the residency. Participants organize their own travel and accommodation in Zurich, with ICST providing assistance if required.