ULYSSES Platform
From its very beginning back in 2012, impuls . Verein zur Vermittlung zeitgenössischer Musik was an active member of the European ULYSSES Network, supported by the European Union already for three editions. By now ULYSSES is seeing its fourth edition as ULYSSES Platform, running from October 2024 until March 2028, again co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. The network has chosen the name ULYSSES, the emblematic European figure of a symbolic journey, personifying human and artistic adventures.
It is led by a consortium of some of Europe’s foremost music organisations, all of which have extensive experience in nurturing and promoting emerging talent. United by a shared commitment to contemporary classical music, these institutions play a vital role in identifying, accompanying and advancing the professional careers of young European artists in contemporary music. At this stage the Platform brings together 13 European partner institutions from 12 European countries: Coordinator: IRCAM (France) + Partners: Lviv National Philharmonic - Contrasts Festival (Ukraine) + Divertimento Ensemble (Italy) + Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg (Germany) + impuls . Verein zur Vermittlung zeitgenössischer Musik (Austria) + Internationale Ensemble Modern Academy (Germany) + JVLMA Contemporary Music Festival “deciBels” (Latvia) + Mixtur Festival (Spain) + Stichting Gaudeamus Muziekweek (Netherlands) + Stiftelsen Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival (Norway) + Viitasaaren Kesäakatemia RY / Time of Music (Finland) + Vsl “Rupertas” (Lithuania ) + Związek Kompozytorów Polskich (Poland)
The ULYSSES Platform has launched a newly designed website, a dynamic hub that reflects its commitment to empowering the next generation of contemporary classical music artists across Europe.
At the heart of the new site is the ULYSSES Artist Directory, a curated showcase of talented emerging artists who have participated in the Platform’s diverse activities. This directory offers increased exposure and recognition to some of the most promising new voices in contemporary classical music, connecting them with presenters, curators, and audiences worldwide. Also featured is the Opportunities page — a centralised and open-access space where organisers, institutions, and festivals can share open calls related to contemporary music. This tool is a direct response to the needs of early-career artists for accessible, up-to-date, and relevant opportunities in an increasingly competitive field. Beyond artist promotion and opportunity sharing, the website highlights the Platform’s wide-ranging activities — including performances, residencies, workshops, and extra-musical skills building — that take place across renowned institutions and festivals in Europe. These actions are underpinned by a strong commitment to environmental awareness and inclusive practices.