Electronic Music Foundation (EMF)

Created in 1994, the Electronic Music Foundation (EMF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the role that electronic music, in its myriad forms and technologies, plays in our world. EMF was founded by its current president, Joel Chadabe, a well-known composer and pioneer in interactive systems. In 1997, Chadabe published the book Electric Sound: The Past and Promise of Electronic Music. He teaches in and directs the electronic music program at Bennington College and is a professor emeritus at the State University of New York at Albany.

At present, the Electronic Music Foundation is working to set up the EMF Institute. The aim of this institute is to preserve and exhibit historically significant electronic instruments both locally and internationally and to archive and disseminate documents and related materials. The institute also hopes to serve as a creativity centre for experimentation in electronic music and technology-based art. The Daniel Langlois Foundation's contribution is being used to achieve these goals.

Founded in September 1994, Electronic Music Foundation (EMF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the role that electronic music, in its myriad forms and technologies, plays in our world.

EMF's startup was supported by donations from more than 750 individuals, organizations, and corporations throughout the world, among them Jon Appleton, Donald Buchla, Thomas Buckner, Elliott Carter, ICMA (International Computer Music Association), IRCAM (Instituit de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique), John Cage Trust, Paul Lansky, George Lewis, Annea Lockwood, Salvatore Martirano, Max Mathews, Robert Moog, Max Neuhaus, Pauline Oliveros, Jean-Claude Risset, Neil Rolnick, Eric Somers, Laetitia Sonami, Laurie Spiegel, Carl Stone, Morton Subotnick, Daniel Teruggi, Theremin Institute (Moscow), David Wessel, Jan Williams, Iannis Xenakis, and ZKM (Zentrum fur Kunst und Medientechnologie Karlsruhe). Corporate contributors included Big Briar, E-mu Systems, Steinberg, Cycling 74, Skyboy Productions, and Symbolic Sound Corporation.

This has grown into an ongoing program of contributions from individuals and corporations. In exchange for their support, contributors become part of EMF's network and receive professional and consumer benefits, from web visibility and services to discounts on media. Our current fundraising includes grants from the Daniel Langlois Foundation and Yvar Mikhashoff Trust. Our current corporate sponsors include Electronic Musician Magazine.
 

Mission
Our mission is one of outreach and support. We aim to communicate knowledge of electronic music and art and its history to the public; and we aim to foster creativity and exploration within the global community of electronic musicians and artists.
 

Programs
The development of electronic music -- its inventors, composers, and performers; its instruments and technologies -- is one of the 20th century's most remarkable musical innovations. Interactive, ubiquitous, and constantly evolving, electronic musical instruments have pushed the boundaries of musical creativity far beyond prior art and have made musical creativity increasingly accessible to an ever-growing public. Our programs bridge the gap between creator and audience, providing the public with access to outstanding artistic and technical innovations.

Formed and functioning on an international scale, often in collaboration with other organizations around the world, EMF's programs include the following:

Educational and Cultural Resource Programs, which provide the public with knowledge, experience, and understanding of the creative potential of electronic technologies.

These programs include The EMF Institute, an information center and museum; EMF Productions, the presentation of concerts and other events in New York City and elsewhere; the EMF Calendar, which lists concerts, festivals, conferences, workshops, and other events throughout the world; and the EMF Internet Directory, which points towards educational institutions, pioneering artists, and other important sites.

Recording and Distribution Programs, which provide worldwide access to culturally important materials that otherwise may be hard to find.

These programs include EMF Media, our CD publishing program; CDeMUSIC, our distribution program for compact discs, books, and other culturally important materials; and GRM Tools, a project in which we co-market sound-processing software developed at GRM (Groupe de Recherches Musicales ) in Paris, France.

Services for Professionals, which foster vital exchanges within the community of professional artists and provide composers with support for making their works better known to the public.

These programs include The EMF / SEAMUS Professional Opportunities Directory, a listing of job opportunities, calls for works, and other opportunities.