Abstract
Science-art residencies can provide opportunities for insightful cross-disciplinary collaborations, science communication, and engagement with the general public. Currently, there are few formal ways for artists and scientists to collaborate in Canada, and even fewer publications on how these experiences can impact learning in informal settings. Art the Science (a Canadian non-profit organization facilitating cross-disciplinary relationships between artists and scientists) piloted a comprehensive multiphase science-art residency program. Phase 1 informed the artist’s work through a full-time experience in a scientific laboratory at an academic institution, Phase 2 showcased the artist’s final artwork, Between the Sand at an off-campus local community event, and Phase 3 published an interactive online version of the work for global exhibition. Residency evaluation in each phase was conducted through the use of qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, concept mapping, video diaries, and surveys. The artist, scientist and lab members gained new perspectives and inspiration about their respective fields. The artist was able to incorporate theories and processes from the research group into their artistic practice. On the other hand, the scientist saw renewed enthusiasm and curiosity within their research lab, and the lab members reported new ways of thinking about how to communicate their research. Both exhibitions proved to be engaging informal learning experiences for 66.2% of survey participants, and revealed several major learning themes. Despite promoting both events as artwork exhibitions, 79.2% of survey participants considered Between the Sand as both an artwork and a science communication product suggesting that science-based art may have the potential to communicate science, even when it is not presented as a science communication effort. Public responses revealed that public perception of funding is not skewed to either discipline and instead seems to call upon both science and arts grants to fund such interdisciplinary initiatives. Providing comprehensive artist residencies in science labs may have a valuable impact on everyone involved: the artist, the research group, and the public.
Highlights
Arts-based initiatives are growing as a favoured approach for science communication in formal and informal settings for the general public (Root-Bernstein et al, 2011)
The artist used physical algorithms to model real world applications in his visual/audio artwork, while the scientist used computer modelling in his research to better understand where contaminants go in the natural environment
In the pre-residency concept mapping, the artist identified the importance of new perspective, and how an artist could potentially contribute to scientific research
Summary
Arts-based initiatives are growing as a favoured approach for science communication in formal and informal settings for the general public (Root-Bernstein et al, 2011). Part of the reason may be due to the nature of how art and culture can connect with people in ways that science cannot do alone (Van Riper, 2003; Kaiser et al, 2014). Art can help facilitate storytelling, knowledge exchange and communication which is deeply needed for adults who spend most of their life outside the formal learning environment (Falk and Dierking, 2019). While the art and science culture (in terms of initiatives, programs, and experiences) in Canada has not advanced as far as that of the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, or Australia, the movement is steadily growing and supporting a space for science-art partnerships and experiences (Zaelzer, 2020)
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