Last spring, the Office of Research & Economic Development gathered together 40 artists, scientists, engineers, and scholars to brainstorm possibilities for new interdisciplinary projects that engage the public, either artistically, scientifically, or both.
Building on this dialogue, and with inspiration by the Creative Matters lecture series, the new Creative Matches grant program is launching to provide funding for collaborative projects that bring together scientific and artistic modes of inquiry, experimentation, and expression.
“The University of Iowa has long fostered the creative minds that explore outer space, make revolutionary medical discoveries, and launch artists whose work inspire generations,” said David Gier, director of the UI School of Music, Erich Funke Professor in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and member of the Arts Advancement Committee. “But it’s somewhat rare on our campus for artists and scientists to have opportunities to collaborate. We’re trying to change that.”
With funding from the Arts Advancement Committee, the Provost Office, and the Office of Research and Economic Development, the program will provide support for three to five projects of between $1,000 and $20,000 each.
Results of the collaborations may take many forms, using as a point of departure scientific methodologies or findings, on the one hand, or art making and the creative process on the other. These collaborations should lead to engagement with the broader public.
Proposed projects must include partners from at least one arts discipline and at least one science, biomedical, or engineering discipline.
The deadline for proposals is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. Visit our website for additional information about eligibility and application guidelines.
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development provides resources and support to researchers and scholars at the University of Iowa and to businesses across Iowa with the goal of forging new frontiers of discovery and innovation and promoting a culture of creativity that benefits the campus, the state, and the world. More at http://research.uiowa.edu, and on Twitter: @DaretoDiscover.