Organizer Information
Atheras Peoples & Cultures is a Cyprus-based non-profit organization, headquartered in Limassol, that promotes cultural development and cooperation, grounded in solidarity, cultural research, and creative projects, with a mission to nurture, promote, and preserve Cyprus's cultural heritage. The organization works to connect artists, researchers, and communities and focuses on the international development of cultural organizations, European funding opportunities, cross-border cooperation, and audience engagement, while also running capacity-building workshops in the arts and cultural education. Within this broader mission, Atheras develops artistic research platforms such as the Nicosia Ludic Lab, which is tied to the Toyful Music Festival and its exploration of new compositional methods.
Title & Description
Nicosia Ludic Lab 2026 — Residency for Composers, Toyful Music Festival 2026
This is a 31-day international residency dedicated to exploring "play" as a compositional and performative methodology in contemporary music. Building on the artistic vision of the Toyful Music Festival, the residency brings together international composers and a professional ensemble to develop new work from initial concept through to public performance, in an environment centered on experimentation, precision, and imagination. Selected composers will work directly with a professional ensemble to test musical ideas in real time, refine materials through rehearsal, and shape artistic decisions through ongoing dialogue between composer, performer, and sound, ultimately producing new works that will form part of the Toyful Music Festival 2026 program.
Theme
"Play" as a compositional and performative methodology, explored through two frameworks: Material Play (using toys, toy instruments, or everyday objects as musical material within a professional ensemble context) and Systemic Play (translating rules, constraints, and behaviors from games into compositional structures).
Categories
- Composer
- Sound/Music
- Residency
- Performance
- Interdisciplinary Arts
Eligibility
- Open to individual composers and performer-researchers only; proposals from duets or collectives will not be considered
- Applicants must be based in a Creative Europe country
- Applicants must be available for the full residency period (23 October – 22 November 2026)
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in experimental, ensemble-based practices
- 4 individual composers will be selected
Program Benefits & Awards
- Full financial support covering travel
- Full financial support covering accommodation
- Full financial support covering a daily allowance
- Shared accommodation in central Nicosia
- Continuous access to a professional ensemble
- Mentorship sessions and individual meetings with ensemble members
- Coaching sessions with composer and conductor Andys Skordis
- Artistic and professional guidance from the Atheras team
- Rehearsal space and full production support for Phase 3
- Video and audio recording of the final live concert, for documentation and international visibility
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Project proposal (max 300 words, or a 2–3 minute video)
- Two work samples per applicant (scores plus audio/video)
- Short CV(s) (max 4 pages per applicant)
- High-resolution photo(s)
How to Apply?
Email application to: info@atheras.eu, with the subject line: "Nicosia Ludic Lab/Toyful – Application – [Your Name]"
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 July 2026
- Results Announcement: 1 August 2026
- Residency Period: 23 October – 22 November 2026
- Final Performance: 21 November 2026
Location
Nicosia, Cyprus
Additional Details
- Selection criteria: Artistic Innovation (40%), Feasibility (30%), Impact (30%)
- Final completed pieces must run 7 to 10 minutes in duration
- Works must be written for the full ensemble (4–5 performers); solo works or small chamber sub-groups (duos/trios) are not permitted
- No electronic elements or fixed media are supported — the residency is focused on acoustic interplay using toys, objects, and conventional instrumentation
- Ensemble instrumentation includes clarinet/bass clarinet, flute/trombone, low brass (tuba/trombone/sousaphone), piano/synthesizer, percussion, and toy/object-based sound sources (toy piano, music boxes, boomwhackers, balloons, etc.)
- Residency structure: Phase 1 – Trial (Days 1–5); Phase 2 – Refinement (Days 6–23); Phase 3 – Production (Days 24–31)
- Final output includes a public concert of world premieres and a public Open Studio presentation