Sitka Center / Artist at Sea

The Artist at Sea Residency provides the opportunity for a visual artist, writer or musician to spend 14 days on an oceanic research vessel interacting with a scientific team gathering data on the size structure and composition of zooplankton in marine food webs off of the Oregon and Washington coasts.

The next research trip is scheduled for Feb 28- March 13, 2022. The ship will be loaded on Feb 27 with an anticipated departure date of Feb 28. The ship will return on March 13  and be unloaded on March 14 . The selected artist must be available from Feb 27- March 14, 2022.  The 2 week (optional) residency at Sitka will follow after from March 14 - March 28, 2022.

Artist Receives

•  An opportunity to live on an oceanic research vessel for 14 days and interact with a team of  scientists from Oregon State University and University of Oregon

•  Free room and board while on the ship with an additional (optional) 2 week stay at Sitka's main campus to creatively respond to the experience

•  $1500 artist stipend including travel and materials

•  An opportunity to share or display the art created during this residency in a variety of channels including the HMSC Visitor Center, the Sitka Art Invitational, and at a show at the Giustina Gallery on the Oregon State University Campus in Corvallis

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The Artist at Sea Residency provides the opportunity for a visual artist, writer or musician to spend 14 days on an oceanic research vessel interacting with a scientific team gathering data on the size structure and composition of zooplankton in marine food webs off of the Oregon and Washington coasts. Oregon State University received grant funding from the National Science Foundation to complete 4 oceanic research trips in 2022-2023.

Click here to view the research project abstract. A visual artist, writer or musician will be invited to participate in each cruise, journal about their experience, and be inspired to create a product that gives a unique voice to the research team’s findings and processes. The goal of this collaboration is to enhance both the scientific process and broaden cultural understanding of science and this specific project.

It is not necessary that the artist’s current work directly relates to plankton or their biology, but it is essential that the artist chosen is exploring environmental themes that highlight ocean ecology and the importance of understanding the benefits and health of this ecosystem.