27.08.2026
Open Call: Z4 RESIDENCY
FOR MUSICIANS, COMPOSERS and SOUND ARTISTS
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APPLICATION DEADLINE:
September 14, 2026
Apply here:
https://forms.gle/iNYVRUNo7oD6NRad6
PDF with the Open Call
Since Winter 2023, Initiative Freie Musikszene Zürich (IFMZ) has offered a residency program at Zeughaus 4, located in Zurich's Kasernenareal. This open call is exclusively for artists based in Zurich.
WHAT WE OFFER:
• A private, acoustically optimized, and heated studio space (30 sqm), access 24/7.
Unfortunately, the studio is not wheelchair accessible.
The workspace is equipped with basic technical equipment (studio speakers, 8-channel mixer, cables). While the room includes elements that improve acoustics, it is not soundproof, meaning that external sounds can enter, and your sounds may leave the studio. Given the presence of other studios in the building, residents should be aware that loud music cannot be played for extended periods. Additionally, the room is not ideal for sound recordings because of the water pipes and street noise. Studio Z4 is situated in Kreis 4, a vibrant and diverse area of Zurich known for its frequent outdoor events.
• Organization and promotion of a public residency sharing to facilitate networking with other artists and cultural actors in Zurich
• A fee of 500 CHF for the residency sharing
• Access to a communal kitchen and shared areas
WHEN:
This Open Call offers two residency slots:
• From the 1st of October to the 30th of November 2026 (8 weeks)
• From the 1st of December 2026 to the 30th of January 2027 (8 weeks)
WHO CAN APPLY:
Zurich-based sound artists, musicians, and composers who focus on contemporary or experimental music or have an interdisciplinary approach to sound. The program is open to individuals or duos, but not suitable for bands or larger ensembles. We prioritize applicants who do not currently have a studio.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants must complete the online application form by September 14, 2026, and submit the following core materials:
• Short description of what you would like to do during the residency
• Artistic CV: Highlighting your background, past projects, and notable artistic engagements.
• Work Samples: Links to 1–3 audio tracks, video recordings, or documentation of recent relevant works (please use streaming links like SoundCloud, Vimeo, YouTube, or personal websites; download links won’t be considered).
For any questions, feel free to contact Nicola Genovese at contact@ifmz.ch
A jury consisting of Magda Drozd, Nicola Genovese, and Constanza Pellicci will select residents, with decisions announced by mid-September.
The Studio Z4 Residency program is supported by Stadt Zürich Kultur.
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21.06.2024
Studio Z4 Residency:
artist sharing with Kaldi Moss
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"Apparatuses do not merely facilitate measurements; they produce (in) different worlds." — Karen Barad, Meeting the Universe Halfway
Dear all
On Friday 21st June we invite you to the residency sharing of Indian artist Kaldi Moss, who is in Zürich for a 3-month residency with Pro Helvetia New Delhi. Moss will present a set of experiments in the form of a performance they call "Lying Down With Time".
"The measurement of time is not just about clocks ticking; it involves complex cultural and philosophical frameworks that dictate our understanding of temporal reality." — Sundar Sarukkai
Lying Down With Time is in response to Moss’s observation of people in Zurich and their loyalty to clock time. How does this relate to the idea of freedom and what does this mean for someone who conceives and lives time differently?
In an attempt to create an apparatus that can sharpen the question, Moss explores a series of incremental experiments, entangling ideas taken from computer science research (Time, clocks, and ordering of events in a distributed network, Leslie et. al.) and biology with philosophy and electronics.
The sharing starts at 6 pm. Afterward, you are invited for drinks and snacks.
See you at our studios at Zeughaus 4 / Kasernenareal / Zeughausstrasse 56 in Zürich.
Kaldi Moss is in a studio residency supported by Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.
24-11-2023
1 Year IFMZ @Zeughaus 4
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11-10-2023
Residency Programme Multidirectional Motions
Starting in winter 2023/24, the IFMZ in cooperation with SONIC MATTER – Platform for Experimental Music and Oto Sound Museum offers a residency programme in Studio 1 of the IFMZ premises at Zeughaus 4 in the Kasernenareal Zurich. The Open Call is aimed at sound artists, musicians and composers living in Switzerland with a focus on contemporary, experimental music or installative and cross-disciplinary practices. Individuals or duos can apply. The residency is not suitable for bands or larger ensembles. The residency is also open to artists from Zurich.
DEADLINE 12 November 2023
TO THE CALL: ︎︎︎Deutsch ︎︎︎Français ︎︎︎Italiano ︎︎︎English
7-9-2023
The free Zurich music scene needs spaces! That's why we founded the association IFMZ and wrote a position paper. If you support our cause, please sign the petition. We are happy about new supporters!
︎︎︎Sign the Petition
