Have a dream project?

If you dream of something you know you could create if you had no restrictions, we’ll listen with open ears and open minds. If you've written something that does not fit into the expectations for newly commissioned music, but you know that it will have a profound effect on those who experience it, we want to help bring it to life!

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

  • Our 2025 IMAGINATION call will be open until October 1, 2025. 

  • There are no limitations; all proposals by artists of any background will be considered!

  • This form will take 30 minutes to fill out

contact info[at]contemporaneous[dot]org for any questions!

(Learn more below)

ABOUT THE IMAGINATION CALL

Contemporaneous is an ensemble of 26 musicians committed to performing, presenting, and promoting the music of our time. Through Contemporaneous IMAGINATION, we champion "dream projects" — the work(s) artists would most like to create if they had no restrictions — bringing to fruition the most exciting and imaginative work of artists around the world through this open call.

Contemporaneous is devoted towards expanding the imagination of today’s cultural spaces through all musical/collaborative art forms (and forms of art not yet established)! It’s our mission to help you bring about those meaningful dreams – the ones that don’t seem possible – through the unquenchably open-minded spirit of our musicians and artistic/development teams. We encourage you to be daring as you imagine the future and promise to respond with the seriousness your ideas deserve – no matter how crazy or impossible they may sound.

If you dream of something you know you could create if you had no restrictions, we’ll listen with open ears and open minds. If you've written something that does not fit into the expectations for newly commissioned music, but you know that it will have a profound effect on those who experience it, we want to help bring it to life!

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

  • Our 2025 IMAGINATION call will be open until October 1, 2025. 

  • There are no limitations; all proposals by artists of any background will be considered!

  • This form will take 30 minutes to fill out.

PAST PROJECTS WITH IMAGINATION

Q&A

  • Anyone! We welcome proposals from artists of all backgrounds, disciplines, and stages in their careers from anywhere in the world. There are no age, geographic, or professional restrictions!

  • We’re looking for your wildest, most imaginative ideas; think the kind of performances that might’ve been turned away in the past because of space, budget, or personnel restrictions. We welcome all artists — ones who might be exploring new practices, forms of expression, interdisciplinary approaches, ideas that might challenge the current performance practice(s), etc.

    If this sounds like your project, apply away!

  • Not at all. We’re looking for your ideas, not whether it already exists.

    If you do have supporting materials (sketches, recordings, related works/concepts executed in the past), you’re welcome to include them!

  • Selected projects will receive development support tailored to your needs. This could include: collaboration with our ensemble, production support, performance opportunities, and more!

    We’ll work with you to figure out how to bring your project to life.

  • Of course! If your project involves collaborators beyond the ensemble (ex. dancers, visual artists, other musicians), please include that in your proposal. Contemporaneous is also accepting applications from artist collectives!

    We’re all for interdisciplinary ideas and would be excited to explore them with you.

  • Yes, but we would recommend focusing your energy on one strong, fully “imagined” proposal.

  • Nope! This call is centered around bold ideas; if this is your first time working with an ensemble like ours, we’ll guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. Your dream is what matters most!

  • Contact info[at]contemporaneous[dot]org for any additional questions or inquiries that you may have.

    PLEASE NOTE: that our team will need 2-3 business days to respond to your inquiry!