Great Lakes Listening Series is a new experimental listening event that presents multichannel sonic artworks within a cinema space. Our inaugural program will be hosted by the Union Cinema at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with support from the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology and the UWM Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres.

This year’s open call is for new works of sound art, music and audio performance that respond to the acoustic ecology of the Great Lakes Region and that are designed for playback in a 5.1 cinema surround sound system. Artists are encouraged to consider the cinema space as a unique listening environment – one with a seated audience and a fixed orientation towards the speaker system – just as they are encouraged to consider the unique locale and ecology of the region in their composition.

Absolutely no entry fees.

Selected artists will be paid an honorarium for their work and offered technical support for 5.1 surround sound mixing in the cinema space.

We are especially interested in projects that consider the many natural, ecological and political complexities of the Great Lakes. Our intention is to explore the potential of the cinematic listening experience as a uniquely immersive and arresting means of engaging with these complexities. For this year’s selection, we will be prioritizing artworks that are anchored in the region.

Event date: May 5, 2026
Notification by: April 2026
Late deadline: February 16, 2026
Early deadline: January 31, 2026

Submission link: https://forms.gle/mE9BuiABDaJHirjQ9

Rules & Terms:

• We are interested in recently completed work but will consider older pieces on a case-by-case basis.
• You can submit up to 2 works.
• We will prioritize works under 15 minutes in length.
• Your work does not need to be mixed in 5.1 to submit. We will provide support with upmixing as needed.

Please note that GLLS reserves the right to include text and audio from your submitted work on our website, social media, and in any press releases and other promotional materials.

If you have questions regarding GLLS, please contact greatlakeslisteningseries@gmail.com.