Location: Lincoln Park Conservatory Fern Room, Chicago, USA; open to anyone in the world, but ESS can support domestic (US) travel only.

Award: USD 1,500 artist fee per artist/team. Open worldwide, but ESS can support domestic (US) travel only. Up to 8 hours of technical support (mastering, spatialization, speaker distribution) for artists who need it. Possible additional paid live performance/activation opportunities. No application fee.

Duration: Installation runs 23 August to 11 October 2026

Deadline: 14 Jun 2026

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.

Open call details

Want to see more grants? Visit The Grant Desk (https://www.artificialnouveau.com/smalltools/grants/).

Location: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, downtown Chicago, USA; open to artists living and working in the United States and its territories.

Award: USD 2,000 artist fee per artist/team. Artists travel to Chicago to work on the piece; additional funds available for engagement activation partners. Limited technical support (mastering, spatialization, speaker distribution) for a small number of artists who need it. No application fee.

Duration: Public showcase 12-14 September 2026 (plus an 8-channel gallery iteration in December 2026)

Deadline: 14 Jun 2026

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.

Open call details

Want to see more grants? Visit The Grant Desk (https://www.artificialnouveau.com/smalltools/grants/).