This week we have issued an Open Call for new walking pieces to be included in Sound Walk Sunday which this year will take place on Sunday 1st September and during the week following.

Hand-held digital technologies are ubiquitous and add another dimension for the creative to work in developing enhanced walking experiences. We believe that there is an increasing appetite for listening to walking pieces in outdoor locations. We want to try to satisfy this demand, by bringing attention to sound walks that creatives working in this field are devising and producing, through promoting Sound Walk Sunday.

What is a sound walk?

A sound walk, or walking piece, is any walk that focuses on listening to the environment, with or without use of technology, or adds to the experience through the use of sound or voice. This can include a scripted or choreographed score or work that has additional audio elements.

Have a walking piece that you want included?

Read the Open Call here

What are the roots of Sound Walk Sunday?

Sound Walk Sunday came to fruition in 2017 with more than 50 creatives contributing works, many of which were performed or made available on-line on the day.  Contributors came from more than 12 countries with works devised for more than 20 locations.  Several of the walking pieces were applicable to anywhere (which caused us some confusion as to where on the Google map we should place them).  Live events took place in London, the Yukon territories, at the Burnin’ Man festival in Nevada, USA as well as part of the Made of Walking gathering in La Romieu in south west France.

From our media release in 2017:

“Going out for a stroll on a Sunday has just become a lot more intriguing, as more than 50 artists, composers and producers from around the world have created walks in which listening is the primary sense.  We are celebrating Sound Walk Sunday on Sunday 27 August creating opportunities for the public to take a Sunday stroll with a difference.   

You can simply sit back and listen to many of the “walking pieces” but we want to entice you outdoors.  You can choose to take headphones to listen to composed walks or simply pin back your ears to listen to your surroundings, and the noises you make yourself while walking.”

Building on the success of 2017

We are excited about Sound Walk Sunday 2019 (SWS19) as it already has key supporters from places that the previous event never reached – for example, Research Centre for Sonology, at the University of Sao Paulo, Brasil.  We are also hoping to attract institutions from other continents as well to support the initiative, and to encourage more interaction and learning between creatives.

Our core team from 2017 has been strengthened with Babak Fakhamzadeh working tirelessly to build the Sound Walk Sunday directory, world map and submission forms on this website.  We are also joined by Fred Adam and his incredible GPS Museum.  We are inviting our core team and supporters to contribute blog pieces to be published in the coming months, so you will find out more about their enthusiasms for Sound Walk Sunday.