Organizer Information
Arts at CERN is the cultural program of CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research), the world's largest particle physics laboratory based in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 2011, it promotes interdisciplinary exchanges between artists and scientists, fostering innovative dialogues at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Since its inception, Arts at CERN has supported over 150 artists through residencies, commissions, and exhibitions, including collaborations with global institutions to explore fundamental questions about the universe. The Collide program, launched in 2012, is its flagship residency initiative, partnering with leading cultural organizations across Europe to amplify artistic research inspired by scientific discovery. For this edition, Arts at CERN collaborates with the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden—a dynamic institution dedicated to celebrating scientific breakthroughs and their societal impact through interactive exhibitions, educational programs, and public engagement. Founded in 1998, the museum honors Nobel laureates, particularly in physics, and shares CERN's legacy of advancing knowledge. This partnership builds on shared commitments to innovation, curiosity, and cultural reflection, creating a platform where artists can bridge CERN's cutting-edge research with the Nobel's historical narratives of human achievement.
Title & Description
Collide Stockholm Residency Award 2026 – Arts at CERN and Nobel Prize Museum.
Collide Stockholm is a fully funded, two-month residency program inviting artists and collectives to delve into the profound impacts of scientific research on contemporary culture, society, and human experience. The purpose is to ignite creative explorations of themes like discovery, innovation, ethics in science, and the cosmos's mysteries, drawing from CERN's particle physics experiments and the Nobel Prize's legacy of transformative breakthroughs. Selected participants will spend the first month immersed at CERN in Geneva, engaging in dialogues with physicists, engineers, and accelerator operators—observing experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, attending seminars on quantum mechanics, and accessing restricted labs to inspire conceptual development. This phase emphasizes raw research, where artists might capture the symphony of colliding particles through sonic mappings or visualize data streams as ethereal sculptures. The second month shifts to Stockholm at the Nobel Prize Museum, allowing refinement of ideas amid historical artifacts, laureate archives, and public programs, culminating in a new artwork that weaves scientific rigor with artistic intuition. Residents will collaborate with curators from both institutions, participate in workshops on interdisciplinary storytelling, and reflect on how Nobel-recognized innovations echo in today's challenges, such as climate modeling or AI ethics. The residency fosters not just creation but profound exchanges: artists challenge scientists' perspectives, while gaining tools to translate complex phenomena into accessible narratives. The resulting piece will premiere in an exhibition at the Nobel Prize Museum, reaching diverse audiences through immersive installations, performances, or digital interventions that provoke questions about humanity's place in the universe. This opportunity embodies Collide's ethos of collision—not just of particles, but of ideas—empowering artists to humanize science, critique its societal ripples, and envision futures where art illuminates the unknown. By blending CERN's futuristic frontier with Stockholm's reflective heritage, residents emerge with works that transcend disciplines, sparking global conversations on curiosity's power. (Word count for this section: 312)
Categories
Open to all artistic disciplines, including Visual Arts (painting, sculpture, installation), Performance Art, Sound and Multimedia, Digital and Interactive Art, Film and Video, Literature and Writing (with a focus on science-inspired narratives), and interdisciplinary practices engaging with science and technology.
Eligibility
Open internationally to individual artists or artistic collectives (up to three members) from any country, aged 18 and over, with a demonstrated interest in science, technology, and interdisciplinary dialogue. Applicants should show motivation for engaging with scientists and a portfolio reflecting innovative approaches to research-driven creation. No formal scientific background required, but proposals must articulate clear intersections between art and fields like physics, engineering, or cultural history. Emerging to established artists are encouraged; collaborative teams must designate a lead applicant.
Program Benefits & Awards
The selected resident or collective receives full funding, including round-trip travel to Geneva and Stockholm (up to €2,000), accommodation in shared artist housing at both sites, a daily per diem of €100 for meals and incidentals, and a €10,000 production grant for materials, technical support, and post-residency development. Participants gain unparalleled access to CERN's facilities (including guided tours of experiments) and the Nobel Prize Museum's archives, plus one-on-one mentorship from curators, scientists, and Nobel experts. The residency includes documentation of the process for professional portfolios, networking events with European art and science communities, and a dedicated exhibition slot at the Nobel Prize Museum in late 2026, with potential for international touring. Additional perks encompass health insurance coverage during the stay and publication in Arts at CERN's catalog, enhancing global visibility and career opportunities.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, maximum 2 pages, outlining artistic background, relevant experience, and interest in science/technology.
- Portfolio of 5-8 recent works (digital files: images up to 5MB, videos up to 3 minutes and 100MB, with descriptions of concept, medium, and date).
- Project proposal (800-1,200 words) describing the artistic concept, research questions, how it engages with CERN and Nobel themes, timeline, and feasibility during the residency.
- Motivation letter (400-600 words) explaining personal drive for the program and expected outcomes from scientific collaborations.
- For collectives: A collaboration statement detailing roles and dynamics.
- Two reference letters from professionals in art or science fields.
All submissions in PDF format (portfolio links acceptable for large files).
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
- Notification Date: March 2026
- Residency Period: June 1 - July 31, 2026 (one month at CERN, Geneva; one month at Nobel Prize Museum, Stockholm)
- Exhibition Premiere: October 2026 (at Nobel Prize Museum)
Location
Geneva, Switzerland
Additional Details
The jury comprises cultural experts from Arts at CERN, scientists from CERN, representatives from the Nobel Prize Museum, and independent artists/curators, evaluating proposals on originality, thematic relevance, interdisciplinary potential, and feasibility. Emphasis is placed on ethical engagement with scientific contexts and diversity in applicants (encouraging underrepresented voices in STEM-art intersections). Visa support is provided for non-EU participants; artists must commit to full attendance and share outcomes publicly. The program aligns with CERN's open-access policies, allowing non-sensitive inspirations only. Inquiries welcome via email; updates via Arts at CERN newsletter.