Ecological Listening Project 2026 by River Margin [Global Audio Open Call; Free]: Submit by Nov 1

River Margin is inviting people worldwide to submit environmental sound recordings and spoken-word audio for The Ecological Listening Project. The free collaborative project will build an evolving online archive of ecological soundscapes and auditory memories. Submit by November 1, 2026.

About River Margin

River Margin is an independent, volunteer-run journal and creative platform focused on nature and ecology.

Through its publications and collaborative projects, it provides a space for creative work exploring wildlife, plants, landscapes, conservation and people’s relationships with the natural environment.

About the Ecological Listening Project

The Ecological Listening Project is a collaborative online archive of soundscapes recorded in ecosystems around the world.

Described as an “atlas of auditory ecological memory,” the project will document how different environments sound across places, seasons and times of day. It also seeks to preserve recordings that may help listeners recognise how natural soundscapes change over time.

The archive will be free for the public to listen to.

Who Can Contribute?

Submissions are accepted from anywhere in the world.
Anyone may contribute, regardless of recording experience.
Phone recordings are accepted.
Experienced field recordists may also submit professionally recorded work.
Participation is free.
No age restriction or professional qualification is stated.

What Can Be Submitted?

Environmental Field Recordings

Applicants may submit recordings capturing natural sounds specific to their location, such as:

Birdsong
Frogs calling
Flowing rivers and streams
Wind
Insects
Forest sounds
Wetland soundscapes
Other sounds from the natural environment

Spoken Observations

Participants may submit spoken-word recordings describing what they observe in the environment around them.

Poetry and Non-fiction Recordings

River Margin also accepts spoken recordings of:

Original poetry about the natural world
Non-fiction prose extracts describing experiences in nature
Personal reflections on natural places and ecosystems

Recording Requirements

For environmental field recordings:

Submit only one recording.
The recording must represent one location.
It must not exceed 20 minutes.
The file must be in MP3 format.
Professional equipment is not required.
A recording made using a mobile phone is acceptable.

The dedicated page does not specify a separate duration limit for spoken-word recordings. Contributors submitting spoken poetry or prose may contact River Margin if clarification is needed.

Information to Include

Applicants must provide the following details in the body of their email:

Date of the recording
Geographic location
Country
Approximate time of day
A short explanation of what or where the recording captures

Contributors who want public attribution should also provide:

Their name or creative moniker
A short third-person biography, if they want to be featured as a contributor
Relevant website, portfolio or social-media links

River Margin states that names, biographies and links will not be added later if they are not included with the original submission.

Optional Podcast Consideration

River Margin is considering developing a podcast connected with the project.

Applicants interested in having their recording considered for a future podcast should mention this in their submission email.

Expressing interest does not guarantee selection. River Margin states that creators will remain informed and involved if their work is considered for podcast use.

Submission Method

Audio files may be submitted:

As an email attachment; or
Through a file-sharing service.

The dedicated Ecological Listening Project page specifically mentions WeTransfer as an acceptable example.

This differs from River Margin’s general journal guidelines, which discourage WeTransfer for regular submissions. Contributors to this particular project should follow the dedicated project page, which expressly permits a file-sharing service.

Participation Fee, Payment and Rights

There is no submission fee.
Access to the finished listening archive will remain free.
River Margin’s general contributor information states that it is currently unable to pay contributors, and the Ecological Listening Project does not announce any payment.
Contributors retain all rights to their recordings.
Creators will be informed and involved regarding any proposed future podcast use.

This is a collaborative archival and publication opportunity rather than a competition. No cash prize or award has been announced.

How to Submit?

Send the MP3 recording to:

Email: contact@rivermargin.com

The dedicated guidelines do not prescribe a compulsory email subject. For clarity, applicants may use:

Ecological Listening Project Submission

Include all required recording details in the body of the email. If using a file-sharing link, ensure that River Margin can access the file without requesting permission.