The Art&Science@ESA
​Residency

Location
Noordwijk, The Netherlands & Linz, Austria

Duration
Second half of 2016
Background 
European Digital Art and Science Network Residency Award is an european competition for digital artists to win a residency at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands and the Ars Electronica Futurelab in Linz, Austria.

This residency prize marks a creative collaboration between the ESA ( European Space ​Agency), Ars Electronica and seven other cultural partners throughout Europe (Center for the promotion of science, RS; DIG Gallery, SK; Zaragoza City of Knowledge Foundation, ES; Kapelica Gallery / Kersnikova, SI; GV Art, UK; Laboral, ES; Science Gallery, IE).
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The aim of the “art and science” prize is to draw a bow between micro- and macro-cosmos. In this way, they seek to accelerate innovation across culture in the 21st century – creating new dimensions in digital arts, inspired by the ideas, engineering and scientific work enabled and achieved by ESA, and produced by the winning artists in collaboration with the transdisciplinary expertise of the FutureLab team at Ars Electronica.
Residency
The Residency is divided in two parts:
  • Initial 2–6 weeks at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. ESTEC is ESA’s technical heart, where most projects are born and guided through the various phases of development. There, the winning artist will work with ESA’s science communications, outreach, and education group, and with one or more scientific mentors, chosen on the basis of the art project’s focus, to inspire him/her and his/her work.

    During her/his residency, the artist will be able to focus on any subject from ESA’s space science programme, although the two upcoming landing events mentioned below may be of particular interest. The submitted idea/project must already reflect what the artist is interested and on which subject she/he wants to realize her/his project.

    ESA’s space science programme: The European Space Agency operates and is partner in a fleet of spacecraft exploring the Sun and the Earth’s magnetic field, orbiting Mars, Saturn, and a comet, and collecting photons with space telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum, from corners of the Universe near and far. Recently launched missions include the Milky Way star surveyor Gaia, the gravitational wave technology testbed LISA Pathfinder, and ExoMars 2016, the first in a series of new missions to explore the Red Planet. Future missions under construction include BepiColombo to explore Mercury, Solar Orbiter to study the Sun from close-up, and Euclid, a mission to survey the mysterious role played by dark matter and dark energy across the Universe and cosmic time.

    Rosetta & ExoMars landings: In September 2016, after a roller coaster 2 years and 2 months orbiting and studying Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission will come to an end with a controlled impact of the spacecraft on the comet’s surface, collecting scientific data all the way down. This audacious action will close the operational phase of an historic mission that has engaged the public worldwide with its journey to uncover the secrets of this cosmic treasure trove, the scientific results from which will rewrite the textbooks of cometary science. A couple of weeks later, attention will turn to Mars, as the ExoMars 2016 mission – a collaboration between ESA and Roscosmos – arrives at its destination after a 7-month cruise. On 19 October, the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator will take the next steps in Europe’s new era of Mars exploration by testing technology as it descends to the surface of the Red Planet.

  • The second part of the residency will be a month with the Futurelab team and a mentor at Ars Electronica Linz, with whom the winner will develop and make new work inspired by their stay at ESA. The Ars Electronica Futurelab focuses on the future of the nexus of art, technology, and society. The lab’s team bases its work commitment upon transdisciplinary research and work which results in a variety of different disciplines. Having artists and researchers from all over the globe collaborating with – and taking residencies at – the Ars Electronica Futurelab, is fundamental to this Atelier/Laboratory.
Requirements
A digital artist who will be truly inspired by the scientific work that is enabled and achieved by the European Space Agency. This competition is open for artists to propose all kind of innovative concepts and ideas in the field of art and technology: interactive art, digital music/sound art, computer animation / Film / VFX, digital communities, hybrid art, performance & choreography, digital design.

Each submission has to include the following parts:
  • A personal testimony video to introduce the artist, who should describe why and how a residency at ESA will inspire new work (up to 5 minutes)
  • An outline of a possible concept/idea that the artist wishes to pursue at ESA (focusing either on the space science programme in general, on a particular science mission, or on one of the two 2016 landing events) and Futurelab
  • A draft production plan with cost estimate for the realisation and timeline
  • A selected portfolio showcasing significant works by the artist
The concept description should be concrete and it should explain the essentials of the idea, either focusing on ESA’s space science programme in general, on a particular science mission, or on the 2016 Rosetta and/or ExoMars landings. In addition, the submission should also explain how and why the ideas and science generated by a residency at ESA and the work at Ars Electronica Futurelab are essential to the art project and the work of the artist.
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The production plan should contain a clear description of the production tasks involved in the project, and how and why the collaboration with the Ars Electronica Futurelab personnel could be beneficial for the realisation and production of the proposed idea.
Compensation
  • The winning artists will be funded during their residency.
  • An artist fee in the amount of € 3.000,- as well as accommodation and travel are funded from an Ars Electronica designated limited fund covering all residencies. No prize money is involved.
  • The final work and the results will be showcased at the Ars Electronica Festival 2016/2017 in Linz and in the framework of modular, mobile exhibitions at the institutions of the seven cultural partners (Center for the promotion of science, RS; DIG Gallery, SK; Zaragoza City of Knowledge Foundation, ES; Kapelica Gallery / Kersnikova, SI; GV Art, UK; Laboral, ES; Science Gallery, IE). ESA offers the possibility to organise an exhibition or performance at one or more of the agency’s establishments in 2016/2017.
Application Deadline
June 6, 2016 
Further Information
http://www.aec.at/artandscience/
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