New DJ Collective for London Museum - Open Call

London Museum has announced its search for a new DJ collective to perform regularly in its new free permanent galleries, opening in Smithfield on 28 November 2026. In collaboration with Hive Curates and the iconic London chicken shop Morley’s, the Sound of London DJ Collective will shift the museum’s mood from day to night, curating the soundtrack for the weekly late opening hours - every Friday and Saturday night until 11PM.

Visualisation of London Museum’s Our Time space © Secchi Smith / Asif Khan

The museum will bring together 12 emerging DJs from across London’s boroughs – encompassing a range of genres, backgrounds and ages and selected with the support of special guest judges, representing voices from across London’s music scene. Through regular paid performances, DJs will have the chance to bring their own perspectives and creative energy to one of the city’s newest cultural landmarks.
The programme will invite visitors to explore London’s past and present while being immersed in sounds curated by some of the capital’s most exciting contemporary creatives. Applications are open until 14 August 2026.

These sessions will shape the evolving atmosphere of Our Time (in the Linbury Hall) - a new social space that reimagines the former trading floor of the historic Victorian General Market as a vibrant gathering place where the museum’s collections and London’s communities unite. Under the heritage ironwork and beautifully restored dome, London's stories are not only displayed but woven into every part of the experience – from the food in its restaurant, to its music and events. The DJ collective will remix the space, taking it from a daytime destination to an energetic evening venue. From this central meeting point, visitors can descend into the museum’s subterranean permanent galleries, or hang out in its restaurant, bar or cafe. 

Dhikshana Turakhia Pering, Head of Creative Programmes at London Museum, said: “The Sound of London DJ Collective celebrates the people, neighbourhoods, local spaces and moments that bring this city to life, uniting bold, original and community-minded DJs who reflect the richness of London’s contemporary sound.”

The DJ Collective will be supported by DJ, MC and club promoter Papa Face, a leading figure in London’s sound system, reggae and club culture. As a specialist advisor to the museum, he is a key voice in the development of one of the 13 large scale installations that will sit around the perimeter of the General Market ground floor. The special commission will celebrate London’s sound system culture, creating a thread in Our Time, between the city’s history and contemporary music scene. 

Morley’s support of the Sound of London DJ Collective continues its deep-rooted ties to London’s creative scene. Its cult status has been cemented through longstanding connections with artists and creatives – including inspiring Krept’s ‘Morley’s Freestyle’ and providing the backdrop for Stormzy’s ‘Big For Your Boots’. London Museum acquired the sign from Morley’s original Sydenham shop sign in 2025. It will be displayed in the museum’s new home in Smithfield as part of an installation in Our Time called ‘Hanging Out’, about the places that bring Londoners together.  

Notes:

• The DJ Collective is open to all applicants who are 18 or older at the time of applying. Applicants must live or work in one of London’s 32 boroughs or City of London to be eligible.

• Successful applicants will join the Collective for a 12-month programme and can expect to perform approximately one DJ set per month from November 2026 to November 2027. 

• Recruitment will take place across three stages. The first stage is a written application, which must be submitted by Friday, 14 August at 11:59 PM. Following this, 50 applicants will be invited to progress to Stage 2. Full information can be found HERE.