Sound Residency

The Sound Residency is an initiative of the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, a Paris-based institution dedicated to the arts and civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. This museum, opened in 2006 and housed in a building designed by Jean Nouvel, serves as both a cultural venue and a research hub. In line with its mission to preserve and present both tangible and intangible heritage, the museum offers this residency as a means to support sound-based contemporary artistic creation. Sound, in this context, is seen as a vital medium for accessing hidden meanings and diverse perspectives not always captured through visual art alone. This residency invites artists to create a sound work that engages with the museum’s themes, collections, or archives. The work must center sound as the primary creative material—ranging from music and spoken word to environmental recordings. Artists are encouraged to explore the museum's audiovisual archives or its extensive collection of musical instruments, though direct use of the instruments is restricted due to conservation policies. The resulting work must be suitable for presentation in the museum's “Music Box” installation space, and adaptable for future displays in other venues. The residency includes significant support. The selected artist receives a €8,000 grant (excluding tax) to cover copyright and the work’s integration into the museum’s collection. In addition, the museum covers production costs including travel, accommodation, and technical setup, in collaboration with Le Fresnoy – Studio National des Arts Contemporains. Le Fresnoy provides the artist with two one-week sessions of technical support and access to professional audio production tools and mentorship. Eligibility is limited to artists from or connected to Africa, Asia, the Americas, or Oceania, including French overseas departments. Applicants may be individuals or collectives, and must submit a legally recognized contracting entity. Resubmissions of previously submitted or similar projects will not be considered. Required submission materials include a registration form, statement of intent, biography, identity document, samples of previous work, and a detailed technical sheet. The selection process includes an internal review and a final jury comprising experts and museum leadership. The application deadline is January 18, 2026, with pre-selection by March and final selection in April. The production phase runs from September 2026 through March 2027, with public presentation occurring mid-March. Applications may be submitted by mail or email (under 50 MB) to residencesonore@quaibranly.fr. All selected artists must agree to present their work publicly, transfer certain usage rights to the museum, and participate in associated activities such as workshops and press events.

Projects should be conceptually linked to the museum’s collections or sound archive; avoid overreliance on using physical instruments.