Organizer Information
Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and hosted via the Spring Creek Project at Oregon State University, the Antarctic Artists & Writers Program is an elite operational arm of the national Polar STEAM infrastructure. The program facilitates targeted field deployments to Antarctica for creative practitioners, utilizing the arts and humanities to deepen public understanding, empathy, and appreciation for human and scientific endeavors on the polar continent.
Title & Description
Antarctic Artists & Writers Program (2027/28 Summer Season).
This fully funded residency program invites working artists, authors, poets, and creative researchers to embed themselves directly within active scientific field environments in Antarctica. The program welcomes a diverse range of creative practices, from traditional landscape work to boundary-pushing, experimental cross-media projects. Selected fellows interface closely with polar scientists, translating operational field logistics, ice-core research, and climate data into impactful public-facing cultural works.
Deployment Parameters:
Fellowships are designed for an on-site deployment lasting between four (4) to ten (10) weeks (typically averaging 6–8 weeks) during the Antarctic summer season (spanning October 2027 through February 2028). Highly specialized early-season deployment options running between August and September 2027 may also be considered based on project requirements.
Categories
Visual Arts, Writing, Photography, Film / Moving Image, Sound Art / Music, and Interdisciplinary Research.
Eligibility
- Residency Status: Open exclusively to U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents.
- Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of application entry.
- Strict Individual Mandate: Only individuals can apply, and only individuals will be awarded fellowships. Due to strict space limitations on research vessels and remote polar stations, collaborative duos, teams, or collectives cannot be accommodated for deployment. (Collaborative teams can resume post-deployment processing upon returning to the United States).
Program Benefits and Awards
- Full Logistics Funding: The program covers round-trip international transit to deployment gateways, specialized Extreme Cold Weather (ECW) survival gear, and inner-continental polar transportation.
- On-Site Operational Access: Room, board, and studio/lab access embedded directly within major national polar research bases and deep wilderness camps.
- Stipend Support: Selected creative fellows are provided with programmatic financial stipends (specific disbursement schedules are confirmed upon final security clearance).
- Cross-Disciplinary Network: Entry into an active, multi-disciplinary annual cohort of national educators and climate scientists.
Fees
- Application Fee: None (Free to submit).
Application Requirements
Because projects are heavily determined by safety and environmental logistics in Antarctica, candidates are strongly urged to watch the official program webinars archived on the Polar STEAM YouTube platform. Proposals must be submitted via the designated Submittable link and include:
- Creative Project Proposal: Detailing the conceptual trajectory, execution methodology, and safety feasibility of your intended project within an extreme polar landscape.
- Public Visibility Plan: Outlining a concrete strategy for how the resulting artwork, publication, or exhibition will be shared to maximize public appreciation of Antarctic science.
- Professional CV / Resume: Capping accomplishments, exhibitions, or publications.
- Creative Portfolio Sample: High-resolution visual sheets, text manuscripts (PDF), or media links tailored to demonstrate your capacity to execute the proposal.
How to Apply?
Submit your project proposal and portfolio assets digitally via the official Spring Creek Project Submittable channel. Apply to the Antarctic Artists & Writers Program.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. The Submittable engine will automatically lock at this exact timestamp.
- Status Notification: All applicants will receive official selection status notifications by early September 2026.
- Deployment Term: Formatted across blocks running between October 2027 and February 2028.
Location
Antarctica (Including McMurdo Station, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Palmer Station, and marine research vessels).
Additional Details
Fieldwork requires living and working in tight, shared remote quarters alongside scientific teams and participating in group base chores. Program staff are legally unable to comment on the artistic merit of creative proposals during the active call but can assist with technical portal issues. For structural submission inquiries, contact joy.jensen@oregonstate.edu.