Call Out: Sound Artist x2
We are looking for two Sound Artists to work with us on creating new audio story installations as part of The Story Den Project with children aged 7-11 in Wigan and Leigh, Greater Manchester.
The Story Den Project is a continuation of our work co-creating audio stories, most recently with Cub that has been shared with over 4,000 young people and their families in the East Midlands and North West. During this new phase: we will co-create audio story installations with children aged 7-11 years old in Wigan and Leigh in October 2026, creating two new short audio stories focussed on our relationship with nature & the climate crisis; commission a designer to create three bespoke pop-up structures between January-March 2027; and finally tour the story installations to eight libraries across Wigan borough over twelve weeks between June-September 2027.
About the Role
Fee: £3,000 per Sound Artist (plus expenses)
Key dates:
Start date: November 2026
Recording: mid-February 2027
We are looking for two Sound Artists to co-create the sound world for our two new stories with local young people aged 7-11 - one story being created with a group at Wigan Youth Zone and one with schools at Leigh Library.
The Sound Artists will be creating the sound design, working with one Lead Author, our Co-Creation Facilitator and one group each of young people to record the story and then complete post-production to create a high-quality audio story (that will be experienced through headphones).
The audio stories will be around 12 minutes long and have a focus on the climate crisis, nature and British wildlife. The aim is to create ‘Thrutopias’ - stories that provide realistic and actionable paths to a more sustainable future, not the despair offered by Dystopias or the unattainable heights of Utopias.
As this role involves working directly with young people, the Sound Artists will have an Enhanced DBS check or be willing to get one.
Responsibilities include:
Designing the sound world for the audio story; full sound design, any recording and production through to a completed audio file.
Engaging with the climate focussed themes of the project both in creative content and ways of working
Lead the recording sessions with young people aged 7-11, supported by the wider team.
Ensuring all safeguarding measures are adhered to during the session, in collaboration with our partners
We would love to hear from local artists as we are a new organisation to Wigan and the North West and aim to build our network locally to ensure we can work sustainably now and moving forward.
We would love to hear from people who:
Have a developed practice and strong track record of working of creating sound design and production for audio experiences
Value young people’s creativity and ensure their ideas, imagination and perspectives are carried through into the final artistic outputs
Are interested in climate action and climate art
How to apply
Please send a CV, short cover letter (1 page max.) and an example of your work (1 page or 3 minutes max.) to the Producer, Courtenay, at courtenay@carbontheatre.org.uk. The cover letter and example can be sent as a written piece no longer than 1 page, video or audio file no longer than 3 minutes.
Deadline for applications: 10am, Thursday 1 October 2026.
We will then invite some applicants for a short online interview.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Friday 23 October 2026.
Further Information
The role is on a freelance contract and you will be responsible for your own tax and national insurance responsibilities. We encourage applications from anyone interested in being part of this project. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunities encouraging and embracing diversity and inclusivity in all areas of activity. We have an access budget to support access needs and reasonable adjustments during the project, including this recruitment phase.
If you require any access support in submitting an application to us or would like to submit your application in an alternative format, please email courtenay@carbontheatre.org.uk