CfP: Contemporary Ambient Research Symposium (CARS), Farnham

Call for Papers: Contemporary Ambient Research Symposium

9 November 2024, UCA Farnham

Proposal deadline: 26 August 2024

Everywhere, all at once while remaining underground; geographically disparate while rooted to place – the contemporary ambient music scene is thriving. The inaugural Contemporary Ambient Research Symposium (CARS) invites academics, researchers, critics, and practitioners to present on topics relating to ambient music and globalised music scenes.

The first symposium aims to form new connections by providing presentation and networking activities for researchers and practitioners operating within the related fields, with the intention to establish a regular bi-annual event with published proceedings. 

Presenters and attendees are invited to submit a short fragment of music and/or sound (max 30 seconds) ahead of the symposium; the sounds gathered will be used as source material for a commissioned production and performance in place of a traditional keynote speaker.  

CARS welcomes proposals for:

  • Academic research papers (20 minutes + 10 minutes Q&A)

  • Demonstrations and workshops (30 minutes + 10 minutes Q&A)

  • Composed works and sonic art (up to 20 minutes + 10 minutes Q&A)

We look forward to receiving proposals for the following topics:

  • Ambient/drone/minimalism/experimental music

  • Field recording

  • Space and place

  • Sonic heritage

  • Auditory storytelling

  • Transience and permanence

  • Independent distribution

  • Music for health and wellbeing

  • Archiving and preservation 

Please send all proposals as a Word Document and any other queries to james.armstrong[at]uca.ac.uk Monday 26th August. Proposals should include a 200 to 250-word abstract and title of paper/workshop/composed work, and a 100-word biography. Any audio/visual requirements should also be listed. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by end of day Monday 9th September.

Please send music/sound fragments in WAV format to james.armstrong[at]uca.ac.uk by Friday 27th September. 

Research students and early career researchers (ECRs) are encouraged to submit. Funding for travel bursaries is available to research students and ECRs, and awards will be assessed on an individual basis.  

CFP, NewsHelene Heuser