Always happy to have contributions from the SC community!
BEAST FEaST 2021: Recalibration
Thursday 22 April – Saturday 24 April
University of Birmingham / Online
Three days of music, sound, meeting and ideas
2020 saw the global soundscape change beyond measure as normal life came to a halt, streets emptied and the world slowed down. This opened the stage for new sounds to occupy these spaces, fill the silence and define for many the sound of isolation. For some the Stay at Home directive has resulted in greater appreciation of or reconnection with the environment immediately around us, coupled with a deeper awareness of the human effects on the environment as the climate crisis continues to surge.
For 2021, BEAST FEaST takes place in partnership with the UK and Ireland Soundscape Community and the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology. We invite submissions which reflect, respond to and look beyond the events of 2020, considering how we emerge and recalibrate.
Submissions should explore the ideas of the Covid Soundscape, the Global soundscape and the Future soundscape. Is there a defining Covid Soundscape? Has the pandemic changed our relationship with the environment? As the quality of our time spent outside has changed are people more acutely aware of the disappearance and reappearance of sound? What sonic practices have had to adapt in response to the pandemic?
As international travel remains limited can we find a new form of virtual travel through the sharing of the Global Soundscape? Looking to the future, what does the pandemic and climate emergency mean for future soundscapes? What practises need to change in response to the global climate crisis? What practices have changed as a response to the pandemic and how will they affect our lives in the future? As a global community finds themselves more distant yet closer than ever what opportunities have arisen and how do we take them forwards?
Join us for 3 days of music, sound, meeting and ideas with featured artists including Hildegard Westerkamp (Canada), Budhaditya Chattopadhyay (Netherlands / India), Chris Watson (UK), Pete Stollery (UK) and Yang Yeung (Hong Kong).
CALL FOR WORKS
For BEAST FEaST 2021 we invite submissions that touch on any aspect of the theme Recalibration described above. We aim for diversity of music, background, and ethnicity and are committed to a 50:50 balance in gender representation.
MUSIC & VIDEO SUBMISSIONS
Works and performances of electronic music, sonic art, and mixed pieces (instruments and electronics) of any style are welcome. Stereo, binaural, ambisonic and multichannel works are all accepted (the latter will be decoded for binaural listening). Works involving video are welcome. Only works of under 14 minutes in duration will be considered.
Online submission system will open on 1/2/21 and be available from:
SONIC DISPATCHES
We welcome submissions of short sonic snapshots or dispatches of up to 2 minutes in duration, sharing recordings, reflections or stories of how your locality, community or environment has changed (stereo or binaural).
Online submission system will open on 1/2/21 and be available from: https://bham.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/beastfeast-2021-sonic-dispatches-submissions
ONLINE WORKS
We welcome submissions of online works that meet the theme. This could be in the form of a virtual reality environment, live performance, online sound game or net-based sound work etc.
Online submission system will open on 1/2/21 and be available from:
TALK / WORKSHOP SUBMISSIONS
We invite short informal talks on relevant topics. Talks should be pitched for a general festival audience rather than a group of specialists. Applicants will be required to submit an informal description of the talk, biography (in final, print-ready copy), and a brief statement of how the talk fits the festival theme.
Online submission system will open on 1/2/21 and be available from: https://bham.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/beastfeast-2021-talk-submissions
COSTS
There is no submission fee. We regret that given the numbers involved we are not able to offer fees for artists selected via this call.
REVIEW
Submissions will be reviewed by members of BEAST and UKISC
Submissions open on Monday 1 February at 12:00 UTC+1 until:
Talks: 1 March 2021 @ 23:59 UTC+1
Music: 1 March 2021 @ 23:59 UTC+1
Info: beast@contacts.bham.ac.uk (submissions sent to this address rather than the online system will not be accepted)
Website: http://www.beast.bham.ac.uk/beast-feast-2021/
Notification: March 2021