Program guide

Artists Residency at Cross-Media Lab

A compact, shareable guide for applicants preparing a proposal for the synthetic biology and art residency at iSynBio.

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Duration: 1-3 months

A focused on-site residency shaped around research feasibility and lab availability.

Location: Shenzhen, China

Based at iSynBio in Guangming Science City, with access to a major synthetic biology ecosystem.

Format: Lab immersion

Artists work through visits, conversations, supervised access, and curatorial research support.

Application status: Open by conversation

Applicants begin through the form, followed by an online conversation and feasibility review.

Who can apply: Artists and researchers

Open to research-led practitioners across art, design, writing, media, performance, and curation.

Working language: English first

English is the primary public language, with Chinese support available in the local context.

Expected outcomes: Research, prototype, public exchange

A final artwork is not required; process, public conversation, and documentation are valued.

Support summary: Housing, workspace, mentorship

Selected residents receive core living/work support, with lab and production resources by request.

Application steps

  1. 1. Browse research themes and labs - Understand the iSynBio ecosystem and identify possible scientific contexts.
  2. 2. Submit application form - Share your practice, proposal, availability, and support needs.
  3. 3. Online conversation - Discuss artistic intent, constraints, research expectations, and next steps.
  4. 4. Feasibility and lab matching review - Confirm safety, mentor availability, timeline, and resource fit.
  5. 5. Cohort visit or orientation - Learn the campus, lab culture, and collaboration boundaries.
  6. 6. Residency confirmation - Finalize dates, support, public program expectations, and access conditions.

Materials

  • Artist statement
  • Portfolio or website
  • CV or short bio
  • Research proposal
  • Preferred research themes
  • Availability
  • Support needs
  • Prior science or lab experience, optional

Selection criteria

  • Artistic quality and originality
  • Relevance to synthetic biology
  • Strength of research question
  • Feasibility within 1-3 months
  • Ability to work respectfully in a lab environment
  • Public dialogue potential
  • Compatibility with available labs and mentors
  • Ethical awareness

Research themes

Synthetic Cell

Investigate what changes when cells are not only observed or modified, but built from molecular components.

Bio-Manufacturing

Explore organisms, enzymes, and automated platforms as material systems for future production.

Living Materials

Work with the cultural and sensory implications of materials that metabolize, decay, adapt, or self-organize.

Microbial Systems

Consider microbial communities as ecological, social, and aesthetic actors rather than hidden background life.

Protein Design

Translate folded structures, molecular machines, and designed proteins into spatial, sonic, or narrative forms.

AI for Biology

Question how machine learning changes biological discovery, authorship, and the imagination of living systems.

Biofoundry and Automation

Look at laboratories as automated infrastructures where protocols, machines, and organisms co-produce knowledge.

Ethics, Society, and Public Imagination

Develop forms that make responsibility, access, risk, care, and future publics part of the biological conversation.

Support

Included

Housing or accommodation, Shared studio or office space, Scientific conversations, Curatorial support, Campus access

By Request

Lab access, Biological materials, Equipment use, Production budget review

Case-by-case

Artwork budget, Documentation support, Public program support, Invitation letters

Not Included

Round-trip airfare to and from Shenzhen, Daily meals, Unapproved organism handling, Independent wet lab work

Possible outputs

This is a research residency, not a commission-driven production program.

Artist talkOpen studioWorkshopPrototype presentationEssay or field notesOnline documentationExhibition proposalFuture collaboration plan

FAQ

Do I need a science background?

No formal biology degree is required. Strong research motivation, patience with scientific process, and respect for laboratory rules are more important.

Can international artists apply?

Yes. The program is designed as an international residency. Practical details such as travel, visa timing, and invitation letters are reviewed case by case.

Can collectives apply?

Collectives may apply when one lead applicant is named and the proposed working format is feasible for the lab, housing, and public program.

Can I work with living materials?

Possibly, but only after scientific, safety, and feasibility review. Any biological material, organism handling, or wet lab work requires approval and supervision.

Can I choose a specific lab?

Applicants may indicate preferred research themes or labs. Final matching depends on scientific fit, mentor availability, safety, and project feasibility.

Is the residency fully funded?

The program provides selected support such as accommodation, workspace, mentorship, and case-by-case production help. Full funding depends on the confirmed residency format.

Is airfare covered?

Round-trip airfare to and from Shenzhen is not included in the current v1 policy unless a separate agreement is made.

Is food covered?

Daily meals are not included in the current v1 policy unless a separate agreement is made.

Is there visa or invitation letter support?

Invitation letter support can be considered after selection and residency confirmation. The program cannot guarantee visa outcomes.

Is a final artwork required?

No finished artwork is required by default. Research, prototypes, public talks, workshops, essays, documentation, or exhibition proposals can all be valid outcomes.

Who owns the resulting artwork or IP?

Artwork ownership and intellectual property questions are discussed case by case before the residency begins, especially when scientific data or lab resources are involved.

What safety restrictions apply?

No unsupervised biological work is allowed. Safety orientation is mandatory, and sensitive proposals may require biosafety or ethics review.