Contribute
Get Involved
Guidance on how to join and what makes a good audio work.
Become a contributor
Coming soon.
What makes a good contribution
Whilst amateurs and professionals from all walks of life are welcome to join BCAP, we have some considerations for maintaining the general identity and collective pride in the overall project. Below are some pointers on how to measure the approach and quality of works submitted:
On Craft & Production
Your piece should be thoughtfully made. This means scripting it, recording it carefully, and editing it intentionally. You don't need expensive equipment, but the audio should be clear enough to listen to.
We encourage you to use sound design to enhance your story - field recordings, voice memos with friends, sound effects, or samples can add texture and emotional depth. Avoid copyrighted music from YouTube or Spotify, as it triggers take-down requests. Instead, use original recordings or royalty-free audio.
If your piece has real merit but the audio quality is holding it back, we can help you re-record with better equipment. Our support is there to remove technical barriers, not to remake your creative work.
Recommended software and audio libraries can be found on the Resources page.
On Voice & Authenticity
Your three minutes should be genuinely yours. Write your own words, speak in your own voice. We're looking for pieces that feel real and intentional, not laboured to the point of sounding hollow or performed.
On Ideas
Say something worth listening to. Your piece should have a point or a perspective - something that makes someone think, feel, or see things differently. Avoid broad complaints or recycled takes. Give us something specific and true.
On Bristol
Your story should be grounded in Bristol in some way, but that grounding can be loose. It could be a direct experience, a historical moment, someone you met there, how it shaped you, or even how being away from it matters to you. There's a through line back to the city.
On Scope
Keep it to three minutes. That's the constraint - in exchange, make it count. Everything in there should serve the story.
On Dialogue
We'll be in conversation with you about your piece. If something doesn't quite fit the spirit, we'll talk it through. This is collaborative, not gatekeeping.
Example work
Below is a sample audio work by BCAP's founder, Tim. As you can hear it's fairly amateur but it does meet the submission criteria on the basis of subject, tone and length.
Do remember though, there are no strict rules to the format other than it being 3 minutes and relating to Bristol. Contributors are encouraged to push the boundaries of the brief as far as they like!
Foundations
Tim Stone — 10 Apr 2026