CALL FOR WORKS


Suomen UNM ry is announcing an open Call for Works for the 2026 Ung Nordisk Musik Festival, which will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from August 10 to 15. Through this open call, five artists will be selected to represent Finland at the festival. The application deadline is June 23, 2025. The call is open for composers, sound artists, collectives, working groups, musicians, and interdisciplinary artists under the age of 31. All types of works are welcome. Eligible applicants are individuals who are originally from Finland or are currently based in Finland and who were born on or after January 1, 1995.

The application form for the Call for Works: https://tinyurl.com/UNMCallforwork

UNM is a joint organization between the Nordic and Baltic countries, with the mission of supporting the careers of young composers and sound artists by organizing the annual UNM festival. Founded in 1946, UNM is one of the oldest contemporary music festivals in the world. The festival serves as a platform for artists under the age of 31 to meet, exchange ideas, share musical visions, and build new connections with peers from across Northern Europe.

The Call for Works is open to all artists and ensembles born on or after January 1, 1995, who are from or living in Finland and whose artistic practice centers on sound or music. We encourage everyone to apply regardless of skin color, religion, gender, background, education, or artistic style.

Each Nordic country (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland) will select five works to be presented at the festival. Two works will be selected from the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). The selected works will be chosen by a national jury in each participating country.

Artists and ensembles working with electronics, installations, interdisciplinary practices, and/or multimedia are also welcome to apply. More information about specific instrumentation requirements can be found under the “Rules and Conditions” section. 

Please read through the terms and conditions carefully before submitting the application. 

The application form for the Call for Works: https://tinyurl.com/UNMCallforwork

ARTIST RESIDENCY
A residency program will also take place as part of the festival. Applications for the residency are submitted through a separate form.
Please read more about the residency here:

The application form for the Call for Residency: https://tinyurl.com/UNMresidency  


THEME


For the 80th anniversary year we have chosen the theme ARCHIVE, with a festival focusing on the past and future of UNM by showcasing your favourite works from your compositional archive. During the festival year in 2026 we aim to be able to accommodate dramaturgical works. For this we will co-produce the works with Scenatet Ensemble. 


UNM CONFERENCE 2026

As a part of UNM 80th anniversary celebration UNM Denmark is presenting the UNM Conference—a “career package” for young music creators that consists of a series of lectures and workshops. Between 11 - 15 August, we invite different guests from across the music industry who will talk about:
  • Freelancing and self-releasing
  • Festival production
  • Cultural funding
  • Startup union
  • Music publishing and engraving
  • Electronics/elecroacoustics


TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The application is open to all Finnish citizens and/or residents born on January 1st 1995 or later AND/OR are a full-time student in the field of arts or music on or before June 23rd 2025, 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 Finnish Call for Works, applicants may only participate in the festival every other year. Applicants who will participate in the UNM festival 2025 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 apply in the UNM Finland Call for Works 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 Denmark commits to producing a performance or exhibition of all selected works, however, here we provide more information on next year’s specific festival ensembles: 


Scenatet — ensemble specializing in performance and dramaturgical works. 6 performers although the ensemble is flexible in size. 
More info: https://scenatet.dk/about/

ÆTLA Vokalensemble — SSAATTBB
More info: https://www.aetlavocalensemble.com/om-aetla/

AKELA — string quartet.
More info: https://www.akelaquartet.com/om-os

K!ART — experimental music ensemble. 5 performers: guitar, keyboards, percussion, clarinet, cello.
More info: https://klart.net/Information

Athelas Sinfonietta — 1,1,1,1/1,1,1,0/2perc.,pno.,hp/1,1,1,1,1. With the possibility for string extension and soloist.
More info: https://athelas.dk/

NEKO3 — experimental music ensemble. 3 performers: perc., perc., pno.
More info: https://www.neko3cph.com/about


Most of the festival will take place in the heart of Copenhagen. UNM Denmark is working with the Royal Danish Academy of Music as a collaborator. Several concerts will take place there, where they can also accommodate 3D works for up to 48 loudspeakers. They also have an outdoor venue. Other venues include KoncertKirken, Literaturhaus and more.

10. The application deadline is June 23rd 2025 at 23:59 Finnish time (EEST). After that, the application form will be closed.

11. UNM Finland verifies the applicants' eligibility and checks the attachments sent through the application form before submitting
them to the jury. If necessary, UNM Finland 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.

12. For all questions related to the Call, please contact unmfinland@gmail.com or by phone +358407682070 (Chair, Suomen UNM ry). We will confirm by email that we have received each application to the email address provided on the application form by July 6th 2025.