Celebrating 10 years since YSWN’s founding, the Rewired programme is offering a series of micro-commissions and larger opportunities for women and gender-diverse working with electronic music and sound art in Yorkshire and the Humber.

We want to respond to exciting artistic ideas proposed by the YSWN community and embrace varied influences and practices: supporting a diverse cohort of music creators across a range of music genres.

Rewired is offering:

• 3 x micro commissions worth £750 each
• 1 x main commission worth £1,500

Rewired is supported by Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants. An associated crowdfunding campaign means that we can offer a further main commission at £1,500 (so 2 main commissions in total) if we hit our crowdfunding target.

There is no specific creative brief set by YSWN – we want to hear YOUR great ideas – though we do have an interest in supporting some ideas that raise public awareness of the climate emergency through sound.

If you are selected, you will be commissioned to create a new piece of electronic (or primarily electronic but featuring vocals and/or other instruments) music or sound art/installation that takes your practice up a step on an artistic and technical level.

We are open to the format of the work that you want to make: it could be a single piece of music, works with multiple parts or songs, a sound installation or multimedia work where sound is the primary focus. The work should be original and not something you have presented in a previous context.

The piece or installation will be presented at a public performance in West Yorkshire in May 2026 but we are also open to ideas that may not result in a performance but are presented digitally, e.g. making a recording or online work.

We would expect applications for the larger commission/s to present a more substantial piece of work than the micro-commissions.

The selected creators will also be asked to participate in an informal webinar hosted by YSWN to talk about their commission (date tbc in spring 2026). The webinar will be offered as one of the rewards for those donating to the crowdfunding campaign, so donors can hear more about the creative processes of the commissioned artists.

Visit the crowdfunding campaign here.

If selected, you will receive a commission fee (£750 for micro-commissions, £1,500 for the larger commission/s) – this fee should include your time developing, creating and presenting your finished work. We want to make sure people are paid fairly for their time, so please think carefully about how much of your time your project will take if commissioned (you could use a union pay scale such as the Artists’ Union one to guide you).

You will receive support from YSWN staff to realise your ideas. If your idea requires any specialist software or equipment purchases, then this should be factored into your commission fee budget. YSWN will discuss sound equipment requirements for the final event with you.

Rewired is open to women (cis or trans) and gender-diverse people aged 18 and over – there is no upper age limit. We are interested in supporting music creators at any stage in their careers.

You will be based in Yorkshire and the Humber. This means either living here permanently, or if you are a student, it is your previous/holiday address, or your term-time address if you are studying here in 2025/26. We particularly welcome applications from those of the global majority and Disabled people. An access fund is available to support successful Disabled applicants.

We aim to work with a diverse group of music creators whose work may encompass genres such as electronica, contemporary classical, folk, urban, jazz and experimental musics.

To apply for Rewired, fill out the following Google form, which asks questions about you, your music, which commission you are applying for and how you hope to benefit from the programme:

Rewired application form

If you would prefer to submit a video application, please answer the questions from the form in a short video and send it, along with the requested music links, to info@yorkshiresoundwomen.com.

The closing date is 11.59pm on Sunday 11 January 2026.

YSWN will be offering a small payment to music creators who applications were eligible for the Rewired programme but were not selected. The payments will be capped within our budget: we have estimated supporting 20 applications at £25 each but may need to offer a lower amount to artists if more eligible applications are received.

YSWN is committed to providing feedback on request for submitted applications.

Timeline
A panel from the YSWN team and one guest musician will assess all of the eligible applications and be in touch with both successful and unsuccessful applicants by the end of January 2026.

The selected music creators will work on their commissions between February and May 2026, with support from YSWN staff. The final public performance/exhibition will take place in May 2026 in West Yorkshire, date and venue to be confirmed.

Email us at info@yorkshiresoundwomen.com and we will help, including offering a short phone or online chat where needed. Please note that we will be closed between 20 December and 4 January inclusive for Christmas break and will not be able to respond to questions during that time.

Rewired is supported by a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England.