CASE STUDY: CULTIVATING ART AND SCIENCE IN THE PETRI DISH: THE CULTURE AT WORK PROJECT

Coordinator: Sherryl Ryan

SUGGESTED ACTIONS

Action 1:  Acknowledge and value the integrity of artist knowledge, creativity and embodied cognition in collaborative art science opportunities.

Problem: The value of the scientist and the scientific problem under investigation in collaborative research opportunities is weighted in favour of the ‘preciousness’ of the scientist or science researcher’s time, financial and professional value above that of the artist, which can and does compromise true collaborative research. Potential significant value paradigm shifts need to take place across the education spectrum for art science innovation to flourish.

Stakeholders: Artists, Scientists, Universities and Science Institutions, Art Science Institutions.

Recommended solution: To acknowledge and value the artist and scientist as equal contributors in collaborative projects within a framework of financial, intellectual and creative equality.

Suggested Actions: New Art Science Collaborative contracts to be designed for art science collaborations that adhere to principles of equality for artists and scientists for financial, intellectual and creative contribution. A new paradigm shift on the value of the artist and scientist collaboration be introduced to the education system.  New tools should be designed for measuring collaborative and potential value in relation to creativity and intellectual contribution of both artist and scientist. Published work should acknowledge the contribution of the artist and scientists intellectual and creative contribution and the significance of the joint collaborative value.

Action 2: Recognition of the value of the experimental research process of artists working with science content and science collaborations and recognition of the longer working time frame that is required to build partnerships, collaborations and projects from 1-5 years. Financial support for the speculative time frame, collaborative time frame and output time frame and associated costs incurred by arts organisations engaging in art science collaborative projects needs to be acknowledged and. addressed.

Problem: Collaborative art science partnerships and projects require a range of timeframes for quality outcomes and the financial support required is not currently readily available to support the operational costs associated with projects. Annual grants advertised in national and state bodies funding rounds work on 6 month/12 month application and announcement cycles and require future planning that is not conducive to longer research process. Three year ARC research grants are better suited to art science collaborations however these are aligned to universities and are not readily accessible to arts art-science organisations.

 Stakeholders: National Government arts funding agencies, State Government arts funding agencies, City Councils, Philanthropists, Universities, Science Institutions, Art Science Institutions, Artists, Scientists.

Recommended solution: Government National and State agencies and Philathropists to identify and acknowledge the value of art science innovation in the future world problems. Prioritise long term funding specifically for art science collaborations acknowledging the need for experimental and developmental timeframes for true innovative collaboration and partnership building. Acknowledgement of the value of art science models developed through 3-5 year projects as catalysts and currency for art science education frameworks and art science curriculum development across the spectrum of education from elementary school to college. The value of the artist in society would increase through these initiatives and create role models for future Creative Industry and Innovation in the next quarter century.

Suggested Actions: National and State funding agencies set aside specific funding for long term art science collaborations for arts and art science organisations for the purpose of developing long term 2-5 years art science collaborations and projects with scientists and science organisations, universities. Funded art science models and partnership projects be linked across education from elementary schools to college and beyond with the purpose of introducing the artscience collaboration to the next generation of educators, students and policy makers.