Cities and Memory: A Global Sound Art Project by Stuart Fowkes

Stuart Fowkes founded Cities and Memory in 2015, a collaborative sound map that now contains around 8,000 field recordings from around the world. The first upload was a one-minute snippet recorded under a bridge near his home in Oxford. Over 2,500 artists have reinterpreted recordings as new compositions. The project won the Grand Prix at the Charles Cros Awards in Paris. Fowkes performed live in Oslo in 2024 and launched 'Century of Sounds' at the Pitt Rivers Museum. He emphasizes sound as an active, emotional medium distinct from visual culture. The platform connects recordists and musicians globally, creating a sonic portrait of the world.