Call Description

CALL FOR ENTRY: CSU SPUR ARTIST RESIDENCY

Deadline to Apply: Friday, January 30, 2026 

Colorado State University Spur is pleased to invite applications for its Artist Residency Program, a six-month, interdisciplinary opportunity for mid-career and professional artists to engage with science, sustainability and community at our cutting-edge public campus in Denver. This residency is designed for artists who are eager to work at the intersection of art, science and education and who are committed to making their practice publicly visible and educationally impactful. 

ABOUT CSU SPUR 

Located in the heart of Denver’s historic Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods, CSU Spur is a free, year-round educational destination focused on food, water and health systems. It is a place where artists, scientists, educators and the public come together to share knowledge, create and inspire future generations. 

The residency takes place in The Shop, where a glass-front studio allows campus visitors to see the creative process unfold. Artists will also have access to Makerspace equipment, content and educational experts, and a broad audience of school groups and community members. 

ducational experts, and a broad audience of school groups and community members. 

RESIDENCY OVERVIEW 

• Duration: 6 months
• Residency Cycles: Two residency cycles per year with two artists in residence at a time (total of 4 artists per year).
• Location: CSU Spur Campus, Denver.
• Provided Resources:
  • Private studio space with public visibility in The Shop
  • Onsite housing in CSU Spur’s Vida building (estimated cost of $9,681)
    • Artists may choose to seek offsite housing at their own expense
  • $10,000 living stipend
  • $5,000 materials budget
  • $1,250 travel budget
  • Access to CSU scientists, educators and researchers
  • Use of CSU Spur Makerspace (after training)
  • Solo exhibition and public opening event
  • Participation in at least one CSU Spur “2nd Saturday” public event
  • Structured engagement with preK-12 students through field trip activities or workshops
  • Promotion through CSU Spur channels and potential inclusion in a print or digital catalog

SPRING 2026 FEATURED COLLABORATOR 

Each residency cycle will feature a different scientist collaborator. Selected collaborators are based on interest and availability of CSU staff. Proposed projects should align with the research information presented below. 

Collaborator Overview: The Urban and Community Forestry Hub is rooted in Denver, connecting local partners, serving neighborhoods near the Spur campus, Eastern Plains and Front Range by facilitating learning, engagement and action across the state via connections to Colorado State Forest Service field offices, other CSU campuses, community members of the Colorado Tree Coalition, and others. 

Current Research 

• Spur’s Research Grove: Physiologists measure urban tree water use to identify species best suited to withstand current and future climate pressures. Planting for the future in the face of climate change.
• Urban Wood Utilization: Support the recycling of urban wood waste through sustainable local project development and storing carbon in our built environment. Processors include sawmills, artists, and craftsmen who give city trees new life after death through durable wood products, soil additives, sculptures and landscape installation… all while keeping the material out of landfills!
• Urban Heat Island Effect: Building resilience in Colorado’s urban environments impacted by heat island effect through increasing tree canopy. In collaboration with CU Boulder’s Master of the Environment students and Colorado Governor's Office of Climate Preparedness, research is overlaying tree canopy, climate model temperature projections for the next 30 years, along with Disproportionately Impacted Community data.
• Wildland Urban Interface (WUI): CSFS staff works closely with our communities located in the WUI zone. In Colorado’s wildland-urban interface, living near natural vegetation means it’s not a question of if a wildfire will occur, but when. Because fire is a natural part of our ecosystems, managing risk is a balance between ecological health and proactive mitigation. Partnerships include preventive education and post-disaster support.
• Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Grant Projects - CSFS staff administers over 15 grants across the state funded by the Inflation Reduction Act - these grants were awarded in 2024 specifically to address tree equity issues across the state by increasing tree canopy and green infrastructure in disadvantaged communities. Since being awarded at the end of 2024, these funds have helped plant over 250 trees and remove over 125 hazardous trees across nine different communities. This is where the boots (and shovels) on the ground really make a community wide impact!

RESIDENCY GOALS 

Mission Statement 

The CSU Spur Artist Residency Program believes that artists and scientists can collaborate to create meaningful change and engage communities in conversations around science and art. 

• Goal 1: Our goal is to support mid-career artists in creating innovative, interdisciplinary projects that bridge science and art.
  • Objective 1: To host two six-month artist residency cycles annually, each providing artists with a stipend, studio space, and access to CSU Spur facilitates and staff.
  • Objective 2: To host two solo exhibitions of artists participating in the residency program at the culmination of each six-month residency period.
• Goal 2: Our goal is to engage the community, especially preK-12 students, in meaningful conversations about the connections between science and art.
  • Objective 1: To have artists in residence participate in at least one 2nd Saturday public event at CSU Spur where artists share their work and process with audiences of all ages.
  • Objective 2: To coordinate at least four preK-12 school group visits per residency cycle, featuring hands-on activities or artist-led discussions that connect the residency themes with science and education standards.
  • Objective 3: To have artists in residence working onsite at Spur during regular field trip hours, to allow students to watch art creation in action.

KEY DATES 

• Application Deadline: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
• Residency Start Dates: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
• Residency Exhibition: September 2026 – January 2027 (install in August/September 2026, deinstall February 2027)
• Residency End Dates: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026

APPLICATION FEE 

• $40 submission fee
• If you reside in the 80216 zip code and may be eligible for a fee waiver, please reach out to lauren.bina@colostate.edu for a promo code.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Artists will be selected by a jury panel of CSU Spur staff, community members, and experts in the arts and sciences. Selection is based on: 

• Artistic Merit and Originality: Evaluates the creativity, aesthetic quality, and uniqueness of the artist’s previous work and proposed project.
• Feasibility and Innovation of Proposed Interdisciplinary Project: Assesses the practicality and innovation of the proposed residency project, including the integration of interdisciplinary elements.
• Ability to Collaborate and Engage with the Public: Considers the artist’s past experiences in collaboration and community engagement, as well as plans to engage with CSU Spur audiences.
• Integration of preK-12 Educational Goals: Measures how well the proposal incorporates meaningful educational outcomes for preK-12 audiences.

QUESTIONS 

Contact: Lauren Bína, Campus Activation Manager
lauren.bina@colostate.edu 

We welcome your vision, creativity, and curiosity. Apply today and help us reimagine the ways art and science connect with community. 

Application Requirements

All applications must be submitted through CaFÉ and include the following: 

• Artist Statement (500 words max)
• Resume or CV (2 pages max)
• Portfolio (Up to 10 images or 5 minutes of video. Provide captions.)
• Residency Proposal (750 words max): Describe the project you hope to pursue, your ideas for collaboration with the featured CSU Spur researchers, and outline your proposed preK-12 educational component
• Community Engagement Response (250 words max): Describe how you would interact with visitors, school groups, or community members
• Technical and Logistical Needs (250 words max): List any specific resources or equipment needed
• Two References (Names, contact info, and relationship to you)

Eligibility Criteria

This program supports artists who are: 

• Exploring interdisciplinary collaborations with science, sustainability or public health
• Interested in using art as a tool for education, curiosity and social engagement
• Comfortable working in a transparent studio environment, with frequent interaction with families, students, and general audiences
• Able to design and deliver at least one educational program for pre-kindergarten–12 learners with the assistance of the CSU Spur education team
• Interested in contributing to public dialogue through exhibitions, artist talks, and panels

This opportunity is open to mid-career and professional artists from any discipline who: 

• Have an established, independent studio practice
• Are enthusiastic about collaboration and public engagement
• Can commit to regular onsite work hours (Spur is open M–F from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on 2nd Saturdays)
• Can participate in all required public-facing events and educational sessions
• Are legally eligible to work in the U.S. (international artists must arrange their own visa)

Artists working in socially engaged, research-based, or community-centered practices are strongly encouraged to apply.