αzιmuτh السمت
‘AZIMUTH - NAVIGATING SOUND AND SPACE’
- EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Sonic explorations of the diaspora experience in ‘Western Sydney’
In navigation, azimuth refers to the angles shown in degrees on a compass, specifying a horizontal direction. The term stems from an Arabic word meaning ‘the ways/directions’.
There are infinite ways in which artists living a diaspora experience engage with the complexities of cultural navigation on the land referred to as ‘Western Sydney’. Our aim is to provide a space for artists to experiment and explore the ideas and stories they want to, in the ways they want to.
At the heart of this project is sound. We invite artists interested in creating and experimenting with music-based art to engage with the concept of ‘navigating sound & place’. How this looks is up to you, and the more experimental the better. However sonic explorations manifest in your practice, whether you are a performer, composer, sound-artist, poet, producer, or installation artist, we want to hear from you.
Whether you are a First Nations artist living on or off Country, whether you have arrived to this land in recent years, or whether your family have been here multiple generations, your creative voice is an integral part of what shapes the cultural landscape that is ‘Western Sydney’. This is an opportunity to experiment and explore ideas that excite you, whether these be highly conceptual or personal stories.
‘Azimuth’ is centered around the collaborative development of new work where the creative process is as important as the finished work. You will have the opportunity to share and discuss your work freely with other selected artists, with support for collaborations to emerge in an organic and meaningful way from initial conversations and musical experiments.
We invite artists at all career stages to join us for this project, in order to form a dynamic ecosystem reflective of the complex cultural and artistic landscape we are a part of.
WHERE and WHAT’S INVOLVED
This project will be based out of Bankstown Arts Centre on Dharug land, and will consist of the below stages:
1. Sound & Place (Listening & Sounding)
Selected artists will spend a day sharing their ideas and engaging with each others’ creative practices as ideas are formed for the project. This will include:
Artist introductions and sharing of practice
A sound walk through the local environment - listening to and connecting with the land we are on
Informal discussions on concepts of ‘cultural navigation’ and what each artist wishes to explore (led by curator Isabella Rahme)
Initial workshops of a ‘sonic angle’ - each artist will be asked to bring an initial musical idea, activity, or provocation to share with the group to ignite the collaborative spark
Lunch will be provided as a chance for artists to share a meal and bond
2. Navigation (Exploring & Collaborating)
We move from listening and discussing to making. Artists will experiment with the ideas submitted in the EOIs, and ideas formed in the initial session. This will include:
Self-led sonic experimentation and self-organised collaborative sessions with other artists
Regular correspondence and online sessions throughout the development of each work with curator Isabella Rahme, and the BackStage Music team
Rehearsing and refining of new works towards end of development process - again with support provided
3. Observation (Sharing through Performance)
The works that have been developed are shared with the broader community. This will include:
A Private Showing - Artists will come together in the space for a showing of work part-way through the development process as an opportunity with feedback from invited industry guests
Public Showcase at Bankstown Arts Centre - Artists have the opportunity to present the new works as a carefully curated program produced by BackStage Music, to share not only the resulting art but the effects of the creative process with the community
ARTIST FEE
The fee for each artist participating in ‘Azimuth - Navigating Sound & Place’ is $1,000. This goes directly to the artist, and does not include production costs for the private showing or final showcase. Artists will be encouraged to collaborate, and will require time to develop their work outside the dates at Bankstown Arts Centre. Support for the development of the creative work throughout this project will be provided by curator Isabella Rahme and the BackStage Music team, with additional general support from CuriousWorks.
KEY DATES
EOI opens: 1 May 2026
EOI closing date: 14 June 2026 at 11:59pm
Selected artists notified: 30 June 2026
Initial Workshop: either 2 August 2026
Private Showing: 29 September 2026
Dress Rehearsal & Final Showcase: 6 November 2026
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the EOI application, please contact us at info@backstagemusic.com.au. We will be hosting an informal Q&A session online on INSERT DATE HERE which we invite you to join and ask any questions you may have about the program.
ACCESSIBILITY
We are committed to ensuring a safe and accessible environment, where artists can feel respected and empowered. If you are selected to participate in the project we will reach out to discuss any access needs. If you have any access needs or require any translations of these materials in order to complete this application, please let us know by contacting us at info@backstagemusic.com.au. Or call Lamorna 0402 051 903
For directions and accessibility information, please refer to BAC’s website:
ABOUT THE ORGANISERS
This project is presented by BackStage Music, with support from CuriousWorks, and curated by Isabella Rahme.
Isabella Rahme is an artist, composer, and performer of Greek and Lebanese heritage living and making music on Bedigal land. Her compositional explorations centre around the use of symbolism and gesture to express concepts and emotions related to the navigation of cultural identity. ‘Azimuth’ is Isabella’s response to the complexities of living in the diaspora, and aims to highlight both the shared experiences across cultures as well as the unique individual perspectives that deserve the attention and consideration of the broader community.
BackStage Music is an artist-run concert platform that nurtures the grassroots of creative art music in Australia. It provides a living space to encourage and enable the collaboration of musicians of diverse backgrounds, career stages and interests, in a sonic melting pot of the new.
CuriousWorks exists at the intersection of contemporary multi-arts practice and community arts and cultural development. They work across art forms and disciplines, focusing on screen works, digital media, and emerging art forms.
Bankstown Arts Centre is the heart of the region's culture - it is a vibrant contemporary multi-arts organisation that advocates for diverse and accessible art with a strong focus on Canterbury-Bankstown, Western Sydney, First Nations and CALD artists.
APPLICATION PREVIEW
We invite you to complete a written EOI here.You may also send through a video or audio EOI and send this through to info@backstagemusic.com.au.
PERSONAL DETAILS
Email *
First Name *
Last Name *
Personal Pronouns
Phone Number *
CONNECTION TO WESTERN SYDNEY
What is your connection to Western Sydney? *
Do you identify as an artist living in the diaspora? * (Yes/No)
Does your lived experience as an artist living in the diaspora manifest within your artistic practice? If so, how? If not, would you be open to exploring this, and how might you want to explore this? *
ARTISTIC PRACTICE
How might you want to explore ideas surrounding ‘cultural navigation’ or respond to the concept of ‘navigating sound & place’ through your artistic practice? *
What excites you most about collaborating and sharing in your artistic practice with others?*
Please provide a short artist biography *
EXAMPLES OF WORK
Please provide links to up to three examples of previous work (you may include work that relates to themes around ‘cultural navigation’ or the diaspora experience, however this is not mandatory) Optionally, provide additional information and context relating to the examples of previous work you have shared
AVAILABILITY
Are you available and able to attend each of the following sessions at Bankstown Arts Centre?
Initial Workshop: 2 August 2026 * (Yes/No)
Private Showing: 29 September 2026 * (Yes/No)
Dress Rehearsal & Final Showcase: 6 November 2026 * (Yes/No)
Would you be prepared to attend the initial workshop with a ‘sonic angle’ - an initial musical idea, activity, or provocation to share with the other artists in order to ignite the collaborative spark? * (Yes/No)
ACCESS NEEDS
Do you have any access needs that you would like noted?
OTHER
Should anything else be considered in reference to your application?