1 July 2025
Open Letter to the Ivors Academy

Dear Ivors Academy,

We want to express our grave concern regarding your decision to remove the Sound Art category from the Ivors Classical Awards.

When the category of Sonic Art (2008-2019) was renamed Sound Art in 2020, many sound practitioners working in this hybrid field felt great pride in being recognised by such an esteemed organisation. It also indicated that the Ivors were responding to modern trends and increasingly exploring more hybrid territories.

We believe it is crucial to recognise the central role that sound art—understood in its broadest sense—plays in shaping contemporary music practice. Removing this category risks narrowing the definition of what counts as classical music in the UK today. That is not only out of step with current practice, but also out of touch with the next generation of composers and artists working across disciplines.

The UK boasts a vibrant sound art community that has produced many innovative and groundbreaking works over the past decades.

We sincerely urge you to reconsider your decision and to reinstate the Sound Art category from 2026 onwards.

Sound Art Brighton.

208
signatures
188 verified
  1. Dr Kersten Glandien, academic / curator, Sound Art Brighton, Brighton
  2. Dr Olivia Louvel, Sound artist/Researcher, Sound Art Brighton, Brighton
  3. chris cutler, musician/author, london
  4. simon james, sound artist, simonsound, Hove
  5. Hannah Kemp-Welch, Artist, London
  6. Dr Louise Gray, writer/lecturer, The Wire, London
  7. Ali Donaldson, Writer, Hove & Saumur
  8. Caroline Kraabel, music creator, Ivors member (Jazz+ committee), ONe_Orchestra New, London
  9. Sound Arts UK, nationwide
  10. Dr Benjamin Tassie, Composer & Researcher, Sheffield
  11. Angus Carlyle, Academic, University of the Arts London, London
  12. Dr Emily Peasgood, Guildhall School of Music and Drama & Emily Peasgood Studio, Ramsgate
  13. Lore Lixenberg, Sound art/voice/musician, York University, London
  14. Katia Farn, organist, choir director, composer, st mary's parish church, handsworth, birmingham
  15. Yvette, Creative, Kent
  16. Dr Joe Inkpen, Musician/composer/educator, Margate
  17. Dr Mark Hanslip
  18. Una Lee, Artist
  19. Emma Margetson, Senior Lecturer in Music and Sound, University of Greenwich, London
  20. Amy Cunningham, academic and artist, University of Brighton, Brighton
...
148 more
verified signatures
  1. Noor-e-Sehar Ali, Writer, sound artist, London
  2. Lucy Schaufer, musician/producer, Wild Plum Arts, Bradford on Avon
  3. Veronica Petukhov, artist, Veronica Petukhov, Glasgow
  4. will Hughes, Artist, Stockton-on-tees
  5. Jenn Kirby, Composer/performer/lecturer, Liverpool
  6. Frank Schulte, sound and media artist, curator, monheim triennale, cologne
  7. Abi Bliss, Co-director/Project producer, Yorkshire Sound Women Network, Huddersfield
  8. Ruth Jarman, artist, Semiconductor, Brighton
  9. Simon Opit, Retired, Edinburgh
  10. Michele Spanghero, artist, Gorizia, Italy
  11. Johanna Bramli, Academic and Artist, University of Brighton, Brighton
  12. Flurina Mia Häberli, sound artist, musician, Den Haag
  13. Alli Beddoes, CEO & Artistic Director, Lighthouse, Brighton
  14. Alan Licht, author, musician, New York
  15. Christoph Cox, dean, professor, scholar, curator, The New School, New York
  16. Anna Braithwaite, Sound Artist, Folkestone
  17. Maria Chavez, Sound artist, NYC
  18. Milanas Brizinskas, Sound Artist, UAL, London
  19. Katie Anderson, Artist, Dumfries and Galloway
  20. Ecka Mordecai, Sound artist + technician, University of the arts London, London
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