art in the education lab 2025: call for artists

At Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute, we believe that understanding how the brain works — and gives rise to mind and behavior — is the most urgent and exciting challenge of our time. The Education Lab, a custom-built street-level space located in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center at 605 W 129th St, is where science and community come together for public and education programs. We host programs in the space and in partnership with local organizations such as the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, BioBus, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, for students, teachers and the general public. Our aim is to invite our community to access and enjoy science in fun and inventive ways.

Project expectations

Artists are invited to submit a proposal for an artwork to be installed in the Zuckerman Institute Education Laboratory, located on 129th Street and Broadway, or artwork that can be presented digitally via our web page or in another creative format (including talks, workshops, or interactive events). All media are acceptable; however, any traditional art pieces (non-digital) must be free-standing. (Due to the limitations of the space, we may not be able to accommodate works that need to be hung or mounted.) We encourage innovative ideas that propose novel ways to display the art in or on the windows of the lab. The work must be publicly accessible. Visual, audiovisual, digital or installation artists are all welcome to apply.

We seek an artist to create a work that will invite and inspire community members to explore science through an artistic lens. Artists will be invited to spend time meeting with scientists at the Zuckerman Institute to inspire the creation of artwork that helps bring science to the public in novel and thought-provoking ways. We particularly seek artwork that will engage our local community in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx.

The selected artist will meet with scientists and produce an artwork proposal based on conversations with the scientists. The final proposal must be completed by the end of March 2025. The artwork itself must be completed by June 30, 2025, and will be publicly displayed for a minimum of one year after installation.

The Public Programs team and a selection committee organized by the Zuckerman Institute will review applications. Shortlisted artists will be selected based on the creativity of the artist statement, the proposed engagement with scientists and the community, and the feasibility of the project within the timeframe and budget. The final selection will be made following a brief interview. The selected artist will be expected to work closely with the Zuckerman Institute Public Programs team during the process.