Residency Program for Artists

From its beginning, the Exploratorium has used the observations made by scientists and artists as a means of developing a clearer understanding of nature and natural phenomena among its visitors. In the words of Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, founder of the Exploratorium and its director until his death in 1985,

“Art is included, not just to make things pretty, although it often does so, but primarily because artists make different kinds of discoveries about nature than do physicists or geologists. They also rely on a different basis for decision-making while creating their exhibits. But both artists and scientists help us notice and appreciate things in nature that we had learned to ignore or had never been taught to see. Both art and science are needed to fully understand nature and its effects on people. The art in the Exploratorium is therefore blended with the science as part of the overall pedagogy.”

Goals of the Residency Program
• Provide the public access to the investigative processes used by artists.
• Develop new insights and understandings by incorporating the artistic process with other investigative processes.
• Enhance the role of the museum as a center of cultural investigation.
• Provide a laboratory setting for artist-conducted research which, in turn, adds to the overall creative atmosphere of the museum and provides an intellectual and technical basis for artists.
• Initiate internal and public discourse about the relationship among art, science,
human activities, and topics related to multidisciplinary and multicultural activities.
• Elucidate, by example, the role that artists can play in modern society.

Overview of the Residency Program
The Exploratorium Residency Program is multidisciplinary in nature and includes a research and development process that may result in temporal works (such as performances, films and videos, workshops, or public presentations) as well as artworks and installations that may become part of the museum’s regular collection. There are two distinct residency opportunities, further described below.

Experimental Residencies
An Experimental Residency is short-term, generally lasting one to two weeks in length. Residency activities are focused on facilitating a dialogue between an artist and the staff, introducing his or her work to the museum. There is no expectation that the artist will develop a physical exhibit or installation during their stay. These low-key, process-oriented residencies give an artist the opportunity to become a part of the Exploratorium community, to discover whether there are mutually beneficial interests between the museum and the artist, and whether the environment is conducive to the artist’s working style. These residencies are often used as an experimental phase for potential candidates for the more formal Artist-in-Residence residencies. Artists are provided with a small stipend, round-trip travel to San Francisco, and living expenses while they are at the museum.

Artist-in-Residence
The Artist-in-Residence (AIR) is a formal residency for the creation of new artworks at the Exploratorium. While still experimental in nature, AIR residencies are focused around a formal proposal for a specific artwork or installation. Artists are expected to be in residence for an extended period of time (anywhere from one to six months), to work closely with staff during the research, development and implementation of their projects, and to contribute to dialogue at the museum through informal staff presentations and more formal talks and programs with visitors. AIR residencies are usually structured in two phases — an experimental phase where the artist develops his or her project ideas, and an implementation phase where the final artwork is completed. Contracts are structured such that a residency is reviewed after the experimental phase and can be ended if it is felt the project will not be appropriate for the museum. AIR Residencies provide an artist stipend, travel and housing expenses as necessary, materials expenses for the project, as well as work space and staff support.

Selection Criteria for Exploratorium Residencies
• quality of concept
• quality of past work
• ability to communicate
• willingness to collaborate and to share new ideas
• relevance of project content to other current projects or investigations at the museum
• expressed staff interest in the project and artist

How to Apply
Submit a letter of interest to Pamela Winfrey that describes in general terms what you would like to do and, if appropriate, which type of residency you would like to be considered for. Include background information, slides and other supporting materials. If you would like your materials returned to you, please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. There are no formal deadlines, however much of the curating occurs on an annual basis in October and November. Questions about these guidelines should be directed to Pamela Winfrey (415) 561-0309.

11/08