LIFEFORMS Residency

Art and science are, in many cases, inspired by similar motivations: a desire to explore the unexplored and to uncover the hidden patterns and relationships of everyday life. Both stir our passions, provide new lenses through which we view ourselves, and work to understand the universe we inhabit. Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and the CBS Conservatory and Botanical Collections, in partnership with The Bakken Museum, a new residency program for artists to work alongside academic scientists to create new, visual artistic works. This is a jury-selected residency intended to be a multi-month immersion in the working world of science. It provides a unique space for artists to connect with researchers, scientific projects and landscapes, and unusual academic spaces to investigate the intersection of science, nature, and humanity. In addition to access to Cedar Creek (East Bethel) and the Conservatory (St. Paul), the selected artist(s) will have access to The Bakken’s collection and museum grounds to research and use as inspiration; at the end of the residency, the artists’ work will be hung for a six month exhibition in The Bakken Museum’s Great Hall for over 25,000 visitors to see! This will commence with a celebratory evening opening at The Bakken Museum in November 2026. A small stipend ($3000) is offered to offset materials and transportation costs. This is a unique opportunity for an artist to explore the deep connections to biology and create genuine and meaningful synergy between art and science. Details on the program rationale, resources provided, expectations for the artist, and a link to the application are online at https://z.umn.edu/lifeforms