09/06/2026
OPEN CALL FOR RESIDENTS (COMPOSERS) - Nicosia Ludic Lab 2026: A Contemporary Composition & Performance Residency by Atheras Peoples & Cultures
Atheras Peoples & Cultures invites composers and performer-researchers to apply for the Nicosia Ludic Lab, a 31-day international residency dedicated to exploring “play” as a compositional and performative methodology in contemporary music.
Building on the artistic vision of the Toyful Music Festival, the residency creates a focused environment where experimentation, precision, and imagination coexist, redefining how music is conceived, structured, and performed.
About the Residency
Dates: 23 October – 22 November 2026
Location: Nicosia, Cyprus
Venues: tbc
The Nicosia Ludic Lab is a structured artistic laboratory bringing together international artists and a professional ensemble to develop new work from concept to performance.
The residency operates as a collaborative compositional environment, where:
• ideas are tested in real time
• materials are refined through rehearsal
• artistic decisions emerge through dialogue between composer, performers, and sound
Who Can Apply
We are selecting 4 individual composers.
• Applications are open strictly to individual artists (proposals from duets or collectives will not be considered).
• Applicants must be based in a Creative Europe country.
• Applicants must be available for the full residency period.
• Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in experimental, ensemble-based practices.
• Applicants must be no older than 35 years of age at the application deadline.
Artistic & Compositional Frameworks
The Concept of Play
The residency places “play” at the core of musical creation as a concrete method. Applicants are invited to engage with:
• Material Play: Using toys, toy instruments, or everyday objects as musical material within a professional ensemble context.
• Systemic Play: Translating rules, constraints, and behaviors from games into compositional structures.
Compositional Guidelines
• Work Duration: The final completed pieces must have a duration of 7 to 10 minutes.
• Full Ensemble Focus: All developed works must be written for the entire ensemble. Works focusing on solo formats or small chamber sub-groups are not permitted.
• No Electronics: This residency focuses purely on acoustic interplay, toys, objects, and conventional instrumentation. No electronic elements or fixed media are supported.
Ensemble & Instrumentation
Composers will develop work for the full Toyful Music Festival Ensemble, drawing from the following instrumentation:
• Clarinet / Bass Clarinet
• Flute / Trombone
• Low Brass (Tuba / Trombone / Sousaphone)
• Piano / Synthesizer
• Percussion
(vibraphone, toms, bongos, cymbals, small percussion, waterphone, etc.)
• Toy & Object-Based Sound Sources (Toy piano, music boxes, boomwhackers, balloons, etc.)
What the Residency Offers
Selected residents will receive:
• Full financial support (travel, accommodation, daily allowance)
• Shared accommodation in central Nicosia
• Continuous access to professional ensemble
• Mentorship sessions and individual meetings with ensemble members
• Coaching sessions with composer and conductor Andys Skordis
• Artistic and professional guidance from Atheras team
• Rehearsal space and full production support for the Phase 3
• Video and audio recording of the final live concert for documentation and international visibility
Residency Structure
• Phase 1 — Trial (Days 1–5): Initial experimentation with the full ensemble, testing ludic sketches, and exploring material possibilities.
• Phase 2 — Refinement (Days 6–23): Intensive composition adjustments, targeted mentorship sessions, and individual meetings with ensemble members to refine playability.
• Phase 3 — Production (Days 24–31): Final rehearsals and ex*****on of the performance-ready works
Final Output
The residency culminates in:
• A public concert featuring world premieres of newly developed works
• A public Open Studio presentation, sharing aspects of the artistic process
What to Submit
• Project proposal (max 300 words or 2–3 min video)
• Two work samples per applicant (scores + audio/video)
• Short CV(s) (max 4 pages per applicant)
• High-resolution photo(s)
Selection Criteria
• Artistic Innovation (40%)
• Feasibility (30%)
• Impact (30%)
Timeline
• Application deadline: 15 July 2026
• Results announcement: 1 August 2026
• Residency: 23 October – 22 November 2026
• Final performance: 21 November 2026
More Information
https://atheras.eu/open-call-for-residents-composers-toyful-2026
How to Apply
Send your materials to [email protected] with the subject line: Nicosia Ludic Lab/Toyful – Application – [Your Name]
About Atheras Peoples & Cultures
Atheras is a Cyprus-based non-profit dedicated to cultural mobility, artistic research, and experimental practice, developing platforms where composition is rethought through new materials, structures, and collaborative processes.
![[english follows]Μόνο 4 ημέρες έμειναν για το Toyful Music Festival Spin-off Conert! Ελάτε να γνωρίσετε από κοντά το pro...](https://img5.glartent.com/239/167/122190179552391677.jpg)
![[english below]/// Το Toyful Music Ensemble μας προ(σ)καλεί να επαναπροσδιορίσουμε τη σχέση μουσικής και παιχνιδιού, σε ...](https://img3.glartent.com/039/167/122189610200391677.jpg)
