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Announcing Open Fung’s
Artist-in-Research (AIR) Program
Open Fung is excited to announce the launch of our Artist-in-Research (AIR) program, a new core element of our arts program created to further our ongoing commitment to directly support artists working at the intersections of art, science, and ecology.In its pilot year, the AIR program will center around fungi, not only as a subject or material, but as a dynamic framework for exploration and research.
Each Artist in Research resident will receive an honorarium and opportunities to collaborate with Open Fung’s scientific team, including co-directors Rachel Linzer and Rolando Perez, and our broader network of researchers and partners.
This six-month, part-time, remote residency includes virtual engagement and in-person visit to the Bay Area. The program is designed to support deep, open-ended, and inquiry-driven exploration at pivotal junctures in the artists' practices. Residents will also share their process and research with the community through public programs and events, fostering connection and dialogue.
Open Fung's Artist-in-Research program is made possible with generous support from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
MORE About Open Fung’s Artist in Research program
Open Fung’s Artist-in-Research program allows us to deeply engage with artists through extended research and shared exploration. In our pilot year, we’re inviting two artists to join us for a six-month, part-time, remote residency that centers around fungi—not only as a subject or material, but as a framework for thinking across art, design, science, ecology, and community.
Artists spend time with Open Fung’s team—including our co-directors of science and a broader network of researchers—both remotely and through in-person visits to the Bay Area. Together, we think, explore, and work in ways that are open-ended, inquiry-driven, and collaborative.
Each residency includes opportunities for artists to share their process and research through public programs and events, fostering connection with local communities and with Open Fung’s broader field. These public activities are often the beginning of something longer—laying the groundwork for deeper relationships, future collaborations, and a growing network of artists and researchers working with fungi.
Program Structure:
- Six-month part-time, remote residency, shaped in conversation with each artist
- Artist fee and materials budget, along with travel support for in-person work
- Bay Area site visits to labs, field locations, and partner institutions
- Opportunities to co-develop public programming or community engagement, such as talks, workshops, or other experimental formats
- This is not a studio residency or exhibition opportunity. It is a research-centered collaboration, with an emphasis on shared learning and interdisciplinary exchange.