Currently 16 active paid audio, sound and music grants, fellowships and residencies. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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Experimental Sound Studio (ESS) seeks proposals for four-channel sound compositions for installation in the Lincoln Park Conservatory Fern Room in Chicago, as part of its Florasonic series. One of the only ongoing sound-installation programs in the U.S., Florasonic has commissioned 47 original works since 2001, and in celebration of its 25th anniversary is launching the first open call in the series' history. Proposed projects should showcase the unique potential of multichannel sound in this highly public context and consider the location, which serves as a sanctuary and space of meditative calm for visitors of all ages; the strongest proposals support and enhance the atmosphere of the Fern Room (both plants and people). The selected work(s) play throughout open hours at the Conservatory. SUPPORT: a USD 1,500 artist fee per artist/team; the call is open to anyone in the world, but ESS can only support domestic (US) travel; there may be additional paid opportunities for live performance or activations during the run. ESS can provide up to 8 hours of technical support with mastering, spatialization and speaker distribution for artists with a clear vision who need help realizing it, but will NOT assist with production (recording, mixing, editing, arrangement). TECHNICAL: works 10 to 60 minutes long (with a period of silence between playback), using the full 4-channel system; selected artists submit a 4-channel interleaved audio file or 4 mono .wav files. TIMELINE: proposals due 14 June 2026; results 1 July; sound works due 10 August; soundcheck 10-15 August; opening 23 August; closing 11 October 2026. Supported by the Paul M. Angell Foundation.
Experimental Sound Studio (ESS) seeks proposals for multichannel sound compositions for the overhead trellis loudspeaker array at the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in downtown Chicago, presented as part of its annual Sonic Pavilion Festival (the ninth series of works on the pavilion's latticed 24-zone, 60-loudspeaker 'canopy of sound'). Sonic Pavilion is part of this year's America250 programs marking the 250th birthday of the United States, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. PROPOSALS SHOULD: showcase the potential of multichannel sound in this public context using all 24 channels; consider the location and architecture of the system; and address the theme of community sound portraits, broadly reflecting or interpreting life in a U.S. community today or over the past 250 years (from musical compositions to field recordings). Narrative/voice works are tricky in this space, so ESS seeks more experimental, abstract interpretations with minimal spoken word. The 2026 Festival features 4-6 artists, each work played multiple times; each artist/team receives a USD 2,000 fee. ELIGIBILITY: artists living and working in the United States and its territories; artists travel to Chicago to work on the piece and participate in at least one engagement activation (live performance, workshop, artist talk, etc.), with additional funds for activation partners. ESS provides limited technical support for a small number of artists with a clear vision, but will NOT assist with production (recording, mixing, editing, arrangement). TECHNICAL: works around 14 minutes using the full 24-channel system; submit a 24-channel interleaved file or 24 mono .wav files. TIMELINE: proposals due 14 June 2026; results 19 June; sound works due 24 August; public soundcheck 30 August; final works 7 September; public showcase 12-14 September; 8-channel gallery iteration in December 2026. Presented with the City of Chicago DCASE and supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the NEA.
Music WorX is the music-technology incubator run by Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft for early-stage teams building products at the intersection of music and technology (creation tools, interactive media, streaming and monetisation, AI for music, instruments and audio gear). Selected teams receive a EUR 3,200 development budget for support services plus a EUR 1,500 per month living allowance over the 3-month programme, mentoring from a European music-tech network, and the chance to win a EUR 1,000 audience prize and a EUR 2,500 jury prize at demo day. The incubator takes no equity. Open to European founders and founding teams (teams of at least two recommended, solo founders welcome); no formal company formation is required to apply. The programme runs roughly September to December 2026. Application deadline: 17 June 2026. Apply via the Airtable form linked from the official programme page.
AFAC's Music grant supports music production, performances, collaborations, album recordings, music-related podcasts, and festivals. The program provides annual grants of up to USD 25,000 for individuals and teams, and up to USD 35,000 for collectives and institutions. WHO CAN APPLY: AFAC welcomes proposals from individuals from Arab countries (the 22 member states of the Arab League), regardless of place of residence, citizenship, or ethnic and national identification; it also accepts proposals from local, regional, and international institutions and organizations (artistic and cultural institutions, galleries, venues, and both nonprofit and for-profit entities) whose projects relate to arts and culture from the Arab region. INELIGIBLE: AFAC board, staff, their business partners or family, and current-year reader and juror committee members for the categories they evaluate; recipients of grants in two consecutive years are ineligible for the next two consecutive years; and applicants with a current open grant. AFAC launches two open calls a year; the second call covers Cinema, Music, and Training & Regional Events grants. Each applicant may submit only one application per open call. WHAT IT COVERS: project production including research and development, covering project-related expenses such as materials, space or equipment rentals, and fees for artistic and technical labor. An artist or institutional fee of up to 30% of the total grant is allowable. AFAC does not offer mobility grants, though project-related travel may be covered, and does not fund retroactively. PAYMENT: for grants above USD 10,000, applicants must show proof of at least 50% of the remaining project budget secured; payments are staged (50/35/15 for grants above USD 10,000, 70/30 for grants below). SELECTION: a grants management completeness review, then an independent readers committee, then an independent jury committee that reaches the final decision. AFAC does not own any material or moral rights to supported projects. Applications are accepted only through the online forms (separate forms for individuals, teams, collectives, and institutions). TIMELINE: deadline 19 June 2026 at 5:00 PM +3 GMT (Beirut time); announcement of selected projects 16 November 2026.
ZKM | Hertzlab's Sonic Experiments artist-in-residence programme awards four scholarships to composers and sound artists specialising in electronic music: three to international artists and one to a composer with a local connection to Karlsruhe (current/former address, school, university, etc.). The 2026 edition, 'Resonating Futures', seeks artists exploring science fiction and space travel through composition and conceptual work; thematic areas may include utopian and/or dystopian approaches, the global climate crisis, decolonial perspectives, health and wellbeing, and the post-human world. The call is open to composers and sound artists of all ages and backgrounds. PROJECT AREAS: composition for live electronics; mixed music (acoustic instruments combined with electronics); experimental performance with a prominent electronic-music or sound component; live coding; and fixed media. Works may be produced in audiovisual format, and there is the opportunity to work with spatial sound (including for applicants new to it). FINANCIAL: EUR 1,500 for the entire residency (covers production, living and travel), plus free ZKM accommodation near Schlosspark for non-local grantees. TO APPLY: submit application materials to image@zkm.de by 28 June 2026, 11:59pm CEST; include the keywords 'Karlsruhe local connection' in the subject line if applying for the local scholarship. Incomplete or non-compliant applications will not be considered. Results announced July 2026.
STIP-6 is a Musikfonds scholarship programme supporting professional musicians who work on AI-based composition and who reflect critically and societally on the role of artificial intelligence in music. Ten scholarships of EUR 30,000 each are awarded for the 2027 working year. Open to Germany-based professional freelance musicians across genres; no computer-science or technical background is required. Deadline 30 June 2026, 18:00 CET. Details and application via the Musikfonds funding programmes page (apply at musikfonds-antrag.de). NOTE: this entry was sourced from research and the funder's pages may update; confirm current figures and deadline before applying.
Initiative Musik's artist funding (Kuenstler:innenfoerderung) is a career-development project grant for solo artists and bands working in popular genres such as pop, rock, jazz, indie and electronic music, helping them build their presence in Germany and internationally. Funding is up to EUR 60,000 per project per year through degressive co-financing (40 to 60 percent of costs; minimum request EUR 6,000). Applicants must be based in Germany and the application is submitted in German. The 74th round deadline is 17 July 2026 (round opens 26 June 2026); a 75th round runs 11 September to 2 October 2026. NOTE: research-sourced; confirm current figures and round dates on the funder's site before applying.
The Aaron Copland Fund for Music's Project Support Program assists organizations whose work encourages and improves public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American concert music and jazz, supporting the performance, recording and presentation of music composed within the last 40 years by US citizens or by non-citizens who have lived and worked significantly in the US or its territories. Grants range from USD 2,000 to USD 20,000, with larger awards possible for larger organizations demonstrating exceptional commitment. ELIGIBILITY: organizations only (individuals cannot apply): nonprofit performing ensembles, presenters, music service organizations and record companies that are 501(c)(3) or hold equivalent foreign status or are fiscally sponsored; record companies may apply with a Federal Tax ID even without nonprofit status. The program does not fund commissioning fees or honoraria. Preliminary round deadline 30 July 2026, 11:59 PM; a main round on 12 November 2026 is by invitation only. No application fee. Apply via the Aaron Copland Fund site. NOTE: research-verified against the funder's page on 2026-06-14; reconfirm figures and dates before applying.
Musikfonds Small Project Funding supports new, experimental and contemporary music projects with grants of up to EUR 3,000, prioritising projects in rural and structurally weaker regions of Germany. A minimum 10 percent co-financing is required and the artist fee must be at least EUR 350 per concert. Applicants and projects must be based in Germany. Application windows close 31 August 2026 and 30 November 2026. NOTE: research-sourced; confirm current figures and window dates on the Musikfonds site before applying.
The Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology (ICST) at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) invites applications for its 2027 Artists in Residence program, fostering artistic exchange in key areas of current research. Residencies are available in five themes: Spatial Audio; Klavierautomat (algorithmic composition); Moving Loudspeakers; Dance and Generative AI; and Object Performance. The program offers access to ICST's facilities and technical infrastructure, professional support from researchers, and per diems for meals and accommodation. Artists and musicians working with sound and sound media, whose practice reflects a strong interest in one of the listed research areas, are encouraged to apply. One selected project from the Spatial Audio Residency will be featured at the SONIC MATTER Festival 2028 as part of an ongoing partnership. PRACTICAL: residencies include use of facilities and technical infrastructure as specified in the thematic descriptions, plus technical support by ICST research staff. Participants receive a contribution toward travel to Zurich (up to CHF 300 for persons living in Europe, up to CHF 500 for persons living outside Europe) and a per diem to cover meals and accommodation in Zurich; participants organise their own travel and accommodation, with ICST assistance if required. Residency dates are defined individually. APPLICATION: submitted via the online form, uploading a concept sketch, composition idea or project draft (PDF, 2 pages, 10 MB max); a portfolio of three selected works relevant to the residency topic including links to external audio and video (PDF, 2 pages, 10 MB max); and a tabular CV covering education and career (PDF, 1 page, 10 MB max). The residencies are awarded by a jury of ICST researchers and project leaders. TIMELINE: deadline 1 September 2026 at 24:00 CET; candidates notified mid-October 2026. Selected candidates receive forms required for an invitation to Switzerland and must confirm participation and return completed forms within 10 days or the invitation may be withdrawn.
The PRS Foundation Open Fund for Music Creators supports songwriters, composers, artists, bands and producers of any genre to create, release and share new music, including recordings, performances, touring and creative development. Grants are up to GBP 5,000. Open to UK-based music creators aged 18 or over with at least an 18-month track record, who are not full-time students. This Autumn round opens 17 August 2026 with a deadline of 7 September 2026. NOTE: research-sourced; confirm current figures and round dates on the PRS Foundation site before applying.
The residencies at Q-O2 offer time and space for artistic research, reflection and creation in the field of experimental music and sound art. In 2027, Q-O2 will host 20 residencies, 10 for international artists and 10 for local artists living in Belgium, working with, on or around sound. The programme is open to artists, art workers and theorists who wish to pursue a research-oriented project; note that Q-O2 does not organise production-directed residencies and is not a rehearsal space. Duos are possible, and exceptionally small groups too. SUPPORT: a work studio and materials, a creative and communicative environment, and the possibility to present work to a public and/or propose a workshop; for international residents, accommodation in a shared apartment and a contribution to travel expenses of up to EUR 200; and a small subsistence budget reserved for artists who do not come with other funding. There is no artist fee. A final public presentation can be arranged if the artist wishes but is not expected; what Q-O2 requires are some traces of the residency in word, image and/or audio form. APPLY by 15 September 2026: email a concise project proposal of no more than one page plus a permanent link to your website or other secondary information (no temporary links) to info@q-o2.be with the subject 'Residency27 - your name'. State where you would travel from, how long you would like to stay (4 to 6 weeks), and your interest in Q-O2 as a working environment, and make sure you receive an email confirmation of receipt.
Musikfonds Large Project Funding supports new, experimental and contemporary music projects with grants of up to EUR 50,000. A minimum 10 percent co-financing is required and the artist fee must be at least EUR 300 per concert. Applicants and projects must be based in Germany; pure audio or video productions, university projects and amateur-only projects are excluded. The application window runs 1 to 30 September 2026. NOTE: research-sourced; confirm current figures and window dates on the Musikfonds site before applying.
The PRS Foundation Composers' Fund supports the career development of composers and producers working in contemporary classical, jazz, experimental and cross-genre music, funding a sustained period of creative and professional development rather than a single project. Grants range from GBP 8,000 to GBP 15,000. Open to UK-based composers who are not full-time students. This Autumn round opens 14 September 2026 with a deadline of 7 October 2026. NOTE: research-sourced; confirm current figures and round dates on the PRS Foundation site before applying.
Abbey Road Red is the music-technology incubator run by Abbey Road Studios (part of Universal Music Group). It is primarily an in-kind and mentorship programme rather than a cash grant: selected early-stage music-tech startups (building tools to create, capture or connect music) get access to Abbey Road and UMG studios, experts and facilities, and the global label and publisher network, plus mentorship and some finance, over a 6-month programme. In exchange, Universal Music Group takes a 2 percent equity stake plus a participation right in future financing rounds. Open to startups worldwide; participants are based in London during the programme. Applications are rolling via the open form on the Abbey Road Red site. No application fee. Note: this is an equity-based incubator, not a grant.
The Yamaha Music Innovations Fund is a USD 50 million venture fund (Yamaha Music Innovations Fund I, LP, managed by Yamaha Music Innovations, LLC) that makes early-stage equity investments in startups across four themes: creative tools and infrastructure; innovative and interactive media; community and collaboration; and empowerment and accessibility (including AI for music and video production, instruments and audio gear, and creator streaming and monetisation). It is an equity investment vehicle, not a grant. Based in Silicon Valley with global reach and no stated geographic restriction. Startups pitch on a rolling basis via the fund's Pitch Us form. No application fee.