MISSION

Look + Listen sparks dialogue between the music and visual art of our time through an annual free festival that promotes access for all audiences and creates opportunities for artists through performances, commissions, and rotating curation.

VALUES

At its essence, Look + Listen catalyzes dialogue between art forms. Look + Listen fosters engagement by featuring interviews with artists and guest hosts from the artistic community and by cultivating an open, inviting atmosphere.

Look + Listen prioritizes access and inclusivity through a commitment to offering all events free of charge, encouraging a broad range of audiences. Look + Listen intentionally seeks out emerging artistic voices and those from historically marginalized communities. All Look + Listen events are professionally recorded and made available publicly for continued engagement.

Look + Listen creates opportunities for a diverse range of musical perspectives through a rotating curatorial platform. Look + Listen commissions new works that premiere at the Festival and holds an annual Call for Collaboration, providing the winning composer a cash prize and a unique opportunity to collaborate with other artists.

ABOUT

Called “a winning formula” by The New York Times, the Look + Listen Festival features music and art created and performed by the finest established and emerging artists. Look + Listen was founded in 2002 by David Gordon, who was inspired by a concert of music by Joan Tower at the DIA Center. Since then, the Festival has presented such extraordinary musicians as the Bang on a Can All Stars, eighth blackbird, JACK Quartet, Brooklyn Rider, Phyllis Chen, Claire Chase, So Percussion, Meredith Monk, the Tyshawn Sorey Trio, and Angélica Negrón. Look + Listen takes place at partner venues throughout the city, which in recent years have included BRIC House, Chelsea Art Museum, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, Robert Miller Gallery, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and The Invisible Dog Art Center.

Each Festival features an Ambient Experience, a signature Look + Listen element that creates an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and helps draw audience members into connection with the artists and works presented. The Look + Listen Composers Collective provides programming guidance, creates ambient music for Festival concerts, and adjudicates the annual the Call for Collaboration.