FAQs

Who should submit a proposal? You! We welcome proposals regardless of experience level or discipline.  Artists must be at least 18 years old at the time of Sound Scene 2025 or apply in partnership with an adult.

Do you ONLY accept audio work? No! Sound Scene’s mission is to challenge sensory expectations and inspire guests to think about, experience, and explore art in new ways. Our roots are in sound art, but many pieces at Sound Scene are multimedia, interactive, or multi-sensory. Proposals most often fall into 1 of these 3 categories: interactive installation, live performance, small group workshop.

What are you looking for in a proposal? Sound Scene curators ask a few questions of each proposal:

How does this work illuminate the Sound Scene theme?

Has the artist demonstrated the experience needed to bring this work to life? 

Will this be a meaningful experience for audiences at Sound Scene?

Can I submit more than one proposal?  Yes! Artists often submit more than one idea for a given year (and sometimes across fields such as a workshop and a live performance). Please note: each proposal requires its own separate submission as each may be reviewed by different Creative Advisory Committee members. 

Is there a fee to submit a proposal? No, and you’re welcome to submit more than one proposal.

How does funding work? Sound Scene provides all artists an honorarium for their work (between $200-$2,000). This amount varies depending on the work itself. Sound Scene is unable to reimburse or fund transportation to/from Sound Scene.

How will you handle COVID-19 protocols? Sound Scene prioritizes the safety of all audiences, artists and volunteers. At this moment, we ask all proposals for the ability to be experienced while following social distancing and other safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC and Smithsonian.

Am I expected to be onsite for the festival? We do ask artists to be on-site (or designate someone to be on-site) to facilitate set-up and tear down. In addition to presenting a memorable festival, Sound Scene is a great opportunity to bring creative artists together. If there are concerns about your attendance for any reason, please note this in your submission and we will try to work with you the best we can.

Are proposals only welcome from DC residents? No, all artists are welcome.

Who plans Sound Scene? Sound Scene is organized by an audio arts collective called the DC Listening Lounge and presented in partnership with Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum.

Who reviews proposals? All proposals are reviewed by our Creative Advisory Committee. It is a group made up of artists and other creative professionals from a variety of geographies and disciplines.

Other Helpful Information The museum is circular (shaped like a donut!) which means there are few, if any square walls, and artists are not able to close doors around their work. Please see images hereand here for additional inspiration about this unique and beautiful architecture. 

Though we welcome location-specific proposals please understand we may not be able to honor all requests.

We exhibit indoors and outdoors so weather resistant proposals are a plus.

Outdoor overhead cover is available on the museum’s Plaza.

The unique architecture of the Hirshhorn may provide opportunities to play with sound reflections (outdoors).

We welcome indoor works that consider headphones, directional speakers or other creative approaches to sensory engagement that endeavor to minimize sound bleed. 

The museum gets a lot of beautiful natural light (there are very few fully dark spaces available) and so proposals that involve projection/s are discouraged.