Outlook

Abstract

Artscience collaboration initiatives and centers that focus on interdisciplinary exchange between art and science are growing around the world. Hubs at universities like the MIT Media Lab, SymbioticA at the University of Western Australia, or the Art|Sci Center at UCLA became role models for newly established centers and departments at universities. The Leonardo group is growing, and Leonardo events and talk series spread after the 50th anniversary of Leonardo even further, and hubs for exchange and meeting like Le Laboratoire and The Laboratory at Harvard are founded around the world. Initiatives like a2ru (Alliance for the Arts Research Universities) in the US map and support such centers, funding opportunities, and educational programs that include art in scientific research and education. In Europe the European Commission supports artists in scientific projects through the STARTS grant; in addition, many smaller individual grant opportunities are developing right now and artscience festivals, galleries, museums, and exhibitions are rapidly growing and spreading, like Ars Electronica and Science Gallery, two institutions that start initiatives around the world. The opportunities in the artistic and scientific field are growing worldwide; it is barely possible to name them all. At the same time, after a long absence since the 1960s, since Xerox PARC created the artist-in-residence program PAIR in the 1990s, the number of corporations inviting artists and supporting artist-in-residence programs seems to be growing exponentially. And those experiencing these collaborations and programs—if done well—understand how important this process is for them and their organization. The interest is growing, and in recent months, initiatives (e.g., festivals, residency programs, exchange programs, intermediary organizations, artscience centers, cultural hubs) have been started more and more frequently based on the positive experiences and high expectations in artscience collaboration.