The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, or FRIB, the MSU Museum and Michigan State University’s art, science and culture collaborative, the STEAMpower Project, are excited to announce the inaugural open call for the MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residency program. This new residency aims to foster collaboration, exploration, experimentation and innovation, culminating in the creation of groundbreaking artworks at the intersection of art, science and technology. The program provides a supportive environment for artists to create new artworks while engaging with the vibrant communities across MSU’s campus.
The call invites visual artists of all backgrounds to immerse themselves in the FRIB laboratory environment, fostering a culture of innovation and boundary-pushing exploration. The theme for this year is nuclear astrophysics. Artists who submit to the call are encouraged to propose interactive visual artworks that explore the societal or philosophical context of this important area of FRIB research.
“Creative innovation is the driver of a major research university,” said Judith Stoddart, vice provost for University Arts and Collections. “Thinking and experimenting together across fields opens up new discoveries. Thanks to the generosity of MSUFCU, we have new ways to collaborate that will create unique experiences and opportunities for engagement with big ideas. This combination of FRIB, the MSU Museum experimentation hub and the STEAMpower Project arts and science research initiative can only happen here.”
FRIB is a world-unique rare isotope research facility that enables scientists to make discoveries about the properties of rare isotopes, nuclear astrophysics, fundamental interactions and applications for society, including in medicine, homeland security and industry. FRIB proudly supports a community of about 1,800 scientists from around the world and regularly collaborates with artists across disciplines.
“We are excited to share with our community how the research conducted at FRIB can positively impact all our lives,” said Thomas Glasmacher, FRIB laboratory director. “The MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residency offers a unique opportunity — by connecting science, technology and the arts — to draw people to FRIB to build community and inspire future scientists, technological innovators and creative communicators to collaborate.”
The selected artist-in-residence will spend an enriching three to four months on MSU’s beautiful campus in East Lansing. They will be provided with private studio and office space at FRIB, along with travel support and a stipend to cover living expenses during the residency period.
Furthermore, the artist-in-residence will have the unique opportunity to showcase their works in an exhibition coordinated by the MSU Museum CoLab Studio, an experimental division within the MSU Museum that fosters the development of novel programming and community engagement initiatives.
“The MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residency promotes innovation through a unique blend of art, science and technology, aligning with the MSU Museum’s strategic goals,” said MSU Museum Director Devon Akmon. “The museum’s galleries aren’t mere spaces for exhibits or experiments; they’re hubs for idea generation, interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.”
Learn more and apply for the MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residency; the submission deadline is Oct. 20, 2023.
The MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residency at FRIB program is generously supported by an endowed gift from Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, with contributions from MSU Museum and the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.