ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

UNM is an umbrella organisation for contemporary music and sound art with boards in the five Nordic countries which each year take turns organising the UNM festival. UNM was founded in 1946, making it one of the world’s oldest festivals of its kind. There, works by composers and sound artists under the age of 31 from and/or based in the Nordic and Baltic countries are presented. The purpose of the festival is to meet across national borders to exchange thoughts, musical ideas and establish new connections.

A number of pieces (various from year to year) will be selected from the following countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. One piece each will be selected from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The festival will take place from 25 August to 31 August 2025 in Uusimaa, Finland. 

Joining this years festival are Tapiola Sinfonietta and Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, Finland’s
premiere student contemporary group NYKY Ensemble, as well as a festival choir. Our
call also supports artists or collectives whose sonic or musical practices are formed by the
use of electronics, installations, multidisciplinary, and/or multi-media practices. Exact
Information on the instrumentation and specifications for each ensemble can be found
under “Terms and Conditions”.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The application is open to all Danish citizens and/or residents born
on January 1st 1994 or later AND/OR are a full-time student in the field
of arts or music on or before June 30th 2024, and you do not hold a
previous master’s degree in music or the arts. In group applications,
all group members must meet the requirements in order to apply.

2. UNM consists of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden,
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. An applicant who is eligible to
apply to the open call from more than one country may only send in
one application, or else their applications will be disqualified.

3. In the Danish Call for Works, applicants may only participate in the
festival every other year. Applicants who will participate in the UNM
festival 2024 cannot apply in this year’s Call for Works or
Artist-in-Residence.

4. The UNM Call for Works is anonymous. Applications to the Call for
Works are sent through the application form. Only applications
sent through the form will be accepted. Applicants enter their
personal information and pseudonym via the application form. The
pseudonym must be such that it is impossible to identify the
applicant. The personal information submitted via the application
form will only be seen by the boards of UNM and used for
administrative purposes. This information will be stored for a
maximum of 5 years after which it will be deleted.

5. Attachments to the application have to be anonymised. Ensure
that any attachments or materials you submit do not contain
names, dedications, performer information, watermarks or other
identifying data in any form. Please also check the metadata for
audio and video files. However, make sure your pseudonym is
visible on each page of the documents attached. If you send a
score the application must also include an audio recording/MIDI
file or a written description of the composition.

6. The selection process includes a gender quota which will be
realized from two lists – male (M) and non-male (NM). 2 works with the
highest points from each list will be selected. The final and third selection
will be that work which has received the highest points from either
list. Thus, either a 2M+3NM or 3M+2NM combination of representatives
will be selected for the festival.

7. Each applicant may apply with a total of 2 works. If an applicant
participates in the call as part of a group with a single work, they
may participate as an individual with one work. If the applicant’s
group/collective applies with 2 works, members of the
group cannot participate as individuals. If the applicant applies
to the residency organised by UNM Finland, they can still apply for the regular
call with one work as an individual or as part of a
group. In the event that an applicant’s work is selected for both
categories, they can decide with which work they would like to be
represented by at the festival.

8. A total of 5 works will be selected in the call for works. In addition
to this, runner-ups will be announced. If the performance of a
selected work is canceled, a replacement work will be selected
from among the runner-ups. Attendance is expected from the artist
selected to participate in the festival throughout the festival week.
The performance of a selected work may be canceled if
the selected artist is unable to attend the festival.

9. UNM commits to producing a performance or exhibition
of all selected works, however, here we provide more information
on next year’s specific festival ensembles.

NYKY Ensemble can accommodate works up to 6 players with or
without electronics and video
Avanti! Chamber Orchestra can accommodate works up to
(1111/1111/01/str 1.1.1.1.1.) + guitar (doubling banjo and
mandolin) without or without electronics and video
Tapiola Sinfionetta can accommodate works up to (1111/1100
/01/str 4.4.3.2.1) + up to 2 additional additional players at the
composers discretion without electronics
Festival Choir can accommodate works up to 3S.3A.3T.3B

10. The application deadline is June 30th 2024 at 23:59
Finnish time (EEST). After that, the application form will be closed.

11. UNM verifies the applicants’ eligibility and checks the
attachments sent through the application form before submitting
them to the jury. If necessary, UNM may ask the applicant
to amend or supplement their application. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to submit the requested changes or documents by
the end of the application period. After the application period
ends, applications cannot be changed or amended, so please
submit your application early enough.