Columbia University's Zuckerman Institute

Deadline: January 17, 2022 (11:59pm EST)

The Zuckerman Institute is seeking an artist to produce commissioned work for their Art in the Education Lab program. Zuckerman particularly welcomes submissions from artists in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx. There is no fee to apply.

• Budget: $10,000, inclusive of all costs related to the project, including but not limited to artist fee and expenses, supplies and installation
• Shortlisted artists will be notified by January 31, 2021
• Deadline: January 17, 2022 (11:59pm EST)
• Eligibility: Any artist living and working within New York City

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Your application should include:

Resume/CV

Artist Statement (2 pages) answering the following questions: 
How does this proposal fit with your previous and current work?
How are you inspired by science, or how would you like to bring science into your work?
How would you like to interact with scientists in the Institute? 
How do you see this project connecting community members with the Zuckerman Institute?
What medium would you use for this project?

Portfolio (optional): Example past works that represent the kind of work you propose to create (Either a maximum of 5 links or image files; you may also include brief descriptions of up to 200 words for each image, or 2000 words or less of written work). If more work than requested is submitted it will not be considered by the selection committee.

About the Program

Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute is seeking an artist to produce commissioned work for our “Art in the Education Lab” program.

At Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute, we believe that understanding how the brain works — and gives rise to mind and behavior — is the most urgent and exciting challenge of our time. The Education Lab, a custom-built street-level space located in the Greene Science Center at 609 W. 129th St, is where science and community can come together for public and education programs. 

Artists are invited to submit a proposal for work to be installed in the Zuckerman Institute’s Education Lab, or artwork that can be presented digitally via our web page or in another creative format (including talks, workshops or interactive events). We seek an artist to create a work that will invite and inspire community members to explore science through an artistic lens. Artists will be invited to spend time meeting with scientists at the Zuckerman Institute to inspire the creation of artwork that helps bring science to the public in novel and inspiring ways. We particularly seek artwork that will engage our local community in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx. 

During normal operations, we host in-person programs in the Education Labspace and in partnership with local organizations such as the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Arts and Minds, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, for students, teachers and the general public. Our aim is to invite our community to access and enjoy science in fun and inventive ways.

The inaugural Art in the Education Lab commission featured Guyanese-born, Harlem-raised photographer and printmaker Ivan Forde, who produced two works to hang in the windows of the Education Lab after interacting with scientists in the institute. The 2021 Art in the Education Lab commission featured Washington Heights-based artist and educator DISTER, who produced a mural titled IN SCIENCE WE TRUST. This mural is currently on display in the Education Lab and can be viewed from the W. 129th Street window.

Listing expiration: January 17, 2022.