Callout: Musicians in Residence

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By Horniman Team
Events Music
The Horniman is seeking three artists for a 6-month residency which celebrates the musical scenes of south London through the creation of new music.

You will explore the old and the new, tell stories through your work and bring new ideas to the museum. Alongside new music, you will work with a digital artist to produce visual content and showcase your work at an event at the end of the programme.

There will be professional development, mentoring, and other opportunities tailored to you and your interests.

You don’t need experience in anything other than creating music, but will need a willingness to explore and collaborate, and a belief in the power of music to bring people together!

Key dates

Please note that you must be available at the dates in bold.

  • 11 May 7pm–8pm: Online Q&A session
  • 24 May 10am: Applications close
  • 30–31 May: Interviews (flexible times)
  • 17 June 12pm–5pm: Induction session one at the Horniman
  • 22 June 6.30pm–8.30pm: Induction session two at the Horniman
  • 7 September: Joint work in progress event (10 mins per person)
  • December: Final event

How to apply

A key aim of the residency is to bring to the forefront artists and expressions of music from cultures, communities and peoples that have been historically underrepresented within museums like the Horniman. As such, we encourage applications from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds, those from working class backgrounds and those who have disabilities, are neurodivergent, or are LGBTQ+.

Applications have now closed.

Feel free to respond to answers about your event ideas by providing a YouTube or Google Drive link.

The expression of interest is a way of showing your interest and sharing your music with us without having to complete the full application. We will contact you if you are a good fit with the programme.

If you would like assistance with applying or would like to refer someone onto this programme please email hornimanresidency@gmail.com. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.

We are looking for musicians who:

  • Are passionate about music and culture
  • Have a strong connection to south London
  • Have an original musical style
  • Want to inspire creativity in others
  • Are not currently in receipt of significant financial backing (e.g. a record label, publisher or private investor)

We are offering:

  • A £3,000 fee
  • A £750 budget to pay session musicians for your showcase event
  • A budget to introduce an object into our Handling Collection
  • Two days in a recording/mixing studio
  • Support documenting your process for social media
  • Artistic development opportunities tailored to your interests
  • Professional mentoring
  • A 45 minute online meeting fortnightly with programme producer
  • Ad hoc meetings with our Music Curator
  • Access to our spaces and collection

We are asking that you:

  • Are able to make the sessions on 17, 22 June and 7 September
  • Create approximately 20 minutes of new music
  • Produce three pieces of digital content with a digital artist
  • Perform at one artist showcase event (either joint or collective)
  • Perform at a work-in-progress performance (additional artist fee of £100)
  • Attend an online 45 minute catch up meeting every two weeks
  • Attend two induction days at the Horniman (seven hours total)
  • Attend two additional group workshops (two hours each)
  • Attend one team building trip

Collections and Spaces

You will have access to:

Artistic and Professional Development

You can choose to focus on:

  • Music curating, including interpretation, accessibility, audience
  • Research techniques
  • Community engagement
  • Artistic direction
  • Event programming
  • Event planning and budgeting
  • Social media strategy
  • Networking
  • Fundraising
  • Contemporary museum practices

This project was made possible by the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022 prize.