How to apply
We are now fully programmed for the 2025 Festival which will explore the theme of Love in all its forms.
Our theme for 2026 will be Bringers of Dreams – please read on for further details, and submit a proposal via our Concert Proposal form. We will be accepting proposals for BREMF 2026 until Monday 22 September and will respond to proposals in November 2025.
BREMF's programming ethos and 2026 Festival theme
Our theme for 2026 is Bringers of Dreams.
The boundaries between real and imagined, between past and future, between aspiration and fear become blurred when we dream. For centuries, this nebulous tideland of imagination has fuelled ideas for countless pieces of art and music, new inventions, alternative fantastical universes, and provided the backdrop for idealised worlds of change. The properties of dreams have long been a source of wonder and many cultures have gods and goddesses of dreamworlds. The Celtic goddess Caer Ibormeith, and the Greek Oneiroi are ‘bringers’ of dreams and nightmares.
We are happy to receive proposals from ensembles working in any early music specialism from medieval to early classical, as well as traditional music. We welcome project ideas of all formats, but performances must focus on music written pre-1800.
Some inspirations around the theme of BRINGER OF DREAMS
For BREMF 2026, we seek proposals on the idea of ‘Bringers of Dreams’. We encourage proposals to take a specific angle on the theme, and combine imagination with an integrity of research. Prompts for programme ideas may be found below.
- Gods/goddesses of sleep or allegories of night in different cultures
- Power of sleep
- Myths and stories that feature imagined worlds or dreamworlds
- Dreams revealing desires to influence waking life
- Aspiration and exploration of remarkable ambitions
- Specific explorations of meanings of dreams
- Star-gazing and constellations
Applying to perform at BREMF - general information
- The Festival takes place across three weekends in mid to late October each year.
- We programme around specific themes for each Festival.
- Our programming aims to create new audiences for early music. Applicants who take this into account are more likely to be successful.
- We mostly programme young artists in slots allocated through our emerging artists scheme. For more information, please click here
- We are less likely to take off-the-peg programmes unless they are part of a funded tour and can work within our theme. We often collaborate with ensembles to build programmes that will resonate with our themes and stimulate new ways of presenting and contextualising music.
- With no core funding, we are always operating on a tight budget. Proposals from ensembles based outside the UK are likely to be more possible if they are subsidised or part of a funded tour that coincides with our festival dates.
- Proposals to perform in the Festival will only be considered if they are submitted via our concert proposal Google Form