The Sibelius Academy is seeking new works for its publication series

The call for publications invites proposals for works that advance the teaching, artistic activities, or research of the Sibelius Academy at the University of the Arts Helsinki. The deadline for submissions is 20 March 2026.

The publication proposal must be either a completed manuscript or a well-developed manuscript plan with writing samples. Authors must familiarize themselves with the profiles of the SibA publication series (more information below) and indicate which series their proposal best fits.

Funding may be applied for from the committee for publication projects scheduled for 2027–2028. The Sibelius Academy may also carry out co-publication projects together with publishing houses.

Publications appear both in print and as open-access digital publications (PDF) in the university’s Taju publication archive. Printed publications typically have a maximum print run of 100 copies.

Visit the Taju publication archive

The Sibelius Academy is responsible for the practical implementation (layout, printing, open publication). The Publication Committee does not fund editorial or writing work. Funding for language editing may be granted only in exceptional cases.

This call does not apply to:
– the DocMus Research Publications series, which has its own continuous call
More information on the DocMus series here
 – audio recordings, which have their own application processes (SibaRecords, Sibelius Academy Folk Music Recordings series)
– theses

APPLICATION

Applications are submitted via an online form. The deadline for applications is 20 March 2026.

Open the online form here

The application must describe factors affecting production costs, such as the scope of the material (number of pages / amount of illustrations) and any copyrighted material. The publication idea and topic must be described clearly and concisely (max. 4000 characters), as well as the publication’s target audience and its significance for the music community and/or research community. Applicants must also realistically assess the timetable for completing a layout-ready manuscript.

Applicants are asked to give an estimate of the total costs of the project, note the sum they are applying, and indicate any funding already granted to the project or applied for. Applicants must seek separate funding for writing and/or editorial work from other sources, such as foundations, or, if employed by the University of the Arts, include the work in their annual workload plan.

Applicants are also asked to submit a text sample as an appendix (file): a chapter or another sufficiently large section, or a preliminary table of contents/synopsis.

Applicants should contact the committee secretary in advance concerning layout and printing costs. Graphic work and printing are carried out using the university’s contracted service providers. Please contact Michaela Bränn, specialist, Publication committee secretary at michaela.brann@uniarts.fi

The application form requests the following information:

• Contact details
• Title of the publication
• Author information
• The series to which the publication is proposed
• A short description of the publication (max. 4000 characters)
• Description of the target audience
• The amount of text and illustrations, as well as their composition
• A schedule plan
• Budget and the amount requested (layout and printing costs: contact the committee secretary before submitting the application)
• Funding plan/other possible publishers, as well as the resourcing of the work at the University of the Arts
• A sample text/synopsis/table of contents to be submitted as an attachment via the online form

The Publication Committee will review applications in April 2026. All applicants will be informed of the decisions. The publication process of funded book projects is overseen by the secretary of the Publication Committee, who also coordinates practical implementation and advises authors at all stages of the process.

A condition for publication is that the material submitted by the author(s) is of sufficient quality, linguistically polished, and layout-ready. Quality assurance and the final publication decision are the responsibility of the Publication Committee.

Read more about Sibelius-Academy’s publication activities here

Series overseen by the Sibelius Academy Publication Committee:

• Sibelius Academy Publications Series

• Studies and Reports by the Sibelius Academy

• Folk Music Publications by the Sibelius Academy