Open call by Rewire: Sensory-friendly concert 2026
September 2025, open call
In 2026, Rewire will commission a completely new work for a sensory-sensitive audience for the fourth time. For the second time, this will happen in collaboration with Amare. Through this open call, we invite artists to submit a proposal for a low-stimulus concert, which they will then develop in collaboration with Rewire and the sensory-sensitive community, and perform at Amare during the festival taking place from Thu 9 till Sun 12 Apr.
It is estimated that around seven million people in the Netherlands are sensitive to sensory stimuli. For them, attending a live music event is often a challenge – and in some cases even impossible. This can lead to social and cultural isolation and its negative consequences. Rewire believes that everyone has the right to access live music. By creating a new work for a frequently forgotten and excluded group, Rewire aims to start a conversation about the importance of accessible culture. This commission seeks to encourage innovative approaches to presenting live music to people for whom this would otherwise be unfeasible.
Rewire is an annual international music festival that not only presents new forms of music, but also explores new ways of experiencing music – whether through film, performance, concert, or dialogue. Rewire stands for inclusivity and diversity: different stories, backgrounds, and perspectives enrich the festival. Rewire also aims to reach people for whom art and culture are not readily accessible, for example, through Rewire Outreach, which is a programme for adults who do not normally engage with music festivals like Rewire.
What is a low-stimulus concert?
In a low-stimulus concert, sensory stimuli are reduced to enable an alternative form of cultural experience. The volume is adjusted, the audience size is limited, and the concert takes place during the day. The venue is arranged to be low-stimulus: there is no background music in the bar and foyer, staff are trained to work with a sensory-sensitive audience, and a quiet room is available. Through this reduction of stimuli, the audience can optimally enjoy the music.
Want to learn more about previous low-stimulus concerts at Rewire? Watch the documentary about the 2023 concert below.
We are looking for artists who
- Work as a duo, trio, or quartet
- Have an innovative idea for a concert for a sensory-sensitive audience
- Present a new work (not an adapted version of existing work), with a maximum duration of 40 minutes
- Work and/or are based in the Netherlands
- Are available on Saturday and/or Sunday, 11 & 12 April 2026
- Are open to dialogue with the sensory-sensitive community to make the work both practically appropriate and thematically relevant
- Are willing to artistically experiment within the framework of a low-stimulus concert and see it not as a limitation but as a possibility
We offer
- Space to further develop and realise your plan
- Artistic guidance from Rewire and partners during the creation process
- Training on low-stimulus culture and sensory sensitivity
- Rehearsal space
- Presentation of the work during Rewire 2026 at Amare (Amare Studio)
- An appropriate fee
Submission
Submit your plan on a maximum of 1 A4 page, including:
- A short introduction of the act
- A description of the low-stimulus concert/performance, including theme, setup, number of performers and instruments used
- An overview of the required budget
- One or two examples of previous work (music via streaming link and/or visuals)
Send your proposal by the 20th of October 2026 to Zoe Besuyen at zoe@rewirefestival.nl. For questions, you can also contact Zoe.
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