Our project explores the collaborations taking place between artists and scientists from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham (UoB). The artists employ sound, film, sculpture, photography, gaming and dance to create new ways of thinking about and experiencing physics, as well as the relationship between science and art. The project is grounded in documentation and research, and is active in presenting work, showing impact and creating new educational and creative outputs that celebrate the relationship between art and science.

Key Academics: Professor Bill Chaplin (project coordinator) [astrophysics; studies of stars and exoplanets]; Professor Kostas Nikolopoulos [particle physics; studies of the fundamental nature of matter at CERN]; Professor Andreas Freise [astrophysics; gravitational waves]. Project curator: Liz Hingley.

The importance of developing close, long-standing relationships – which includes regular “immersive” meetings, formal residencies (Leverhulme award) and co-supervision of one artist’s PhD in Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Music Theatre – lies at its core, and has allowed us to chart the progress of how practice has been influenced over time.