Open Call

Do you have an experimental music project and are looking for a stage to present it on?

Generator is a concert series and laboratory for electroacoustic music and new media, taking place roughly every three months. It offers musicians, sound artists, and media artists a space to perform, experiment, and exchange ideas.

Artistic Director: Micha Seidenberg

As part of our 2026 season, we are reserving space for one or two projects to be selected through an open call.

We seek adventurous and compelling work in experimental music, sound, and performance. Whether you’re a duo, trio, soloist, composer, sound artist, electronic musician, or performance artist – if you have a production-ready project in need of a platform, we’d love to hear from you.

  • Credits: Rahel ArnoldCredits: Rahel Arnold

What we are looking for

We are looking for:

  • 1–2 projects to be presented in the Generator series on 28 May 2026 or on a date still to be determined between 15 September 2026 and 15 December 2026
  • Production-ready projects (not in development)
  • Flexible and adaptable projects
  • Smaller-scale productions that can be set up and performed on the same day, or with a maximum of one additional rehearsal day

Who should apply?

We welcome diverse formats and aesthetics, as long as they foreground experimental approaches to sound and performance or question, stretch, or redefine established practices in the field of sound-based artistic practices. 

Submission Process

Deadline for submission: 15 Feburary 2026

After the submission period, ICST will contact shortlisted projects to clarify:

  • Finances and budget
  • Production needs
  • Venue and technical requirements
  • Travel and accommodation, and other details

How to Apply

Please send your project proposal by email to: info.icst[at]zhdk.ch
Include “Open Call – Generator” in the subject line.

We prefer proposals of max. one A4 page (landscape format; see our template) including links to relevant media. However, we are open to alternative formats–for example, a video or audio recording of you talking through your idea.

Your proposal should focus on the artistic content, but it is helpful if you can also include:

  • A rough budget / financial overview
  • Duration of the project
  • Intended audience
  • Short biographies of the artists involved
  • Documentation (recordings, video, etc.)
    Please include all media as links, not as file attachments

Don’t worry if you can’t provide everything above–if we have questions, we will contact you. The most important part of your submission is the artistic idea.

Important Notes

  • We are looking for ready-to-go projects–not commissions or works-in-progress. It will not be possible for ICST to contribute to commission fees for the open call projects.
  • We are looking for time-limited, performance-based works–installations and exhibitions are not suitable for this call.
  • ICST aims to cover production costs and performer fees.
  • Travel and accommodation costs will be discussed case by case with the artists.
  • If your project already has partial funding (e.g. commission fees, travel grants), please mention this in your application.
  • For concert-based projects with multiple pieces, we may suggest adjustments to the programme during preliminary meetings.
  • ICST reserves the right to postpone or cancel projects depending on the final concert budget.

Download Template