To extend the reach of new ideas and creative thinking, the MacArthur Fellows Program makes a handful of small grants to organizations each year to support public-facing programming featuring two or more Fellows from different fields of endeavor.
The programming—including panels, performances, and conversations—is organized and curated by independent, nonprofit hosts in coordination with participating Fellows. The initiative provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary engagement, which can lead to new collaborations and provide fresh inspiration and approaches for addressing real world problems, while simultaneously exposing the public to the work of MacArthur Fellows.
We are committed to supporting these public facing interactions hoping that audiences also remain curious, energized, and open to discovering new possibilities within themselves and in their connections with others. We hope to see you at a future event.
Ongoing Througout 2022
Colorspace
A collaborative project between physicist Hideo Mabuchi (2000) and sculptor Judy Pfaff (2004) exploring ceramic glazes and developing polychromatic formulations that can liquify and run together in the high heat of the kiln. Colorspace, is an interaction that brings together Mabuchi’s expertise on the science of ceramics and Pfaff’s perspective as a visual artist. This blending of science/art methodologies will culminate in a public exhibition in the fall of 2022.
They are documenting their experimentation and progress on their Colorspace blog.
Location
Tivoli, New York
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
The Pandemic Diaries
Event Time
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ET
Join Camilo José Vergara, Gregg Gonsalves, Elihu Rubin, Laura Wexler, and Robert Beauregard for a conversation about The Pandemic Diary, Camilo José Vergara’s ongoing documentation of the impact of COVID-19 on the poor and minority communities in New York City.
Location
A Hybrid Live and Zoom Webinar Event.
On Zoom, closed captions will be available in English. View current vaccination and mask requirements.
In person, enter the Yale University Art Gallery’s Robert L. McNeil, Jr., Lecture Hall at 201 York Street.
Monday, October 10, 2022
The Glass Mosque: A Public Gathering
Event Time
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET
The Glass Mosque: A Public Gathering promises a robust communing of artists, architects, and composers invested in rethinking the categories that have historically determined the symbolic and literal meaning of the mosque — spiritually, culturally, and architecturally. The Glass Mosque is a collaboration among composer Vijay Iyer, poet Bhanu Kapil, author Fred Moten, and artist Shahzia Sikander. The four are equal partners, stakeholders, and owners in this creative project.
The Glass Mosque will be realized as both an artwork and a book. This initial public event is critical to launching the project to ensure an iterative process of becoming. The project's emphasis on the built environment through its title will be the discursive focus of this first gathering. The qualities of glass, its strength, and fragility, and its transparency and opacity are themes that will guide the evening’s conversation.
Location
National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park South, New York
Wednesday, August 3 and 4, 2022
Rhythm Bath
Event Time
3:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, August 3 and 6:00 p.m. ET Thursday, August 4
Rhythm Bath is a dance performance-installation that investigates what makes performance environments welcoming to both neurodiverse and neurotypical audiences. It is being designed from the start with neurodiverse advisors, with choreography by Susan Marshall (2000) and set designer Mimi Lien (2015).
Location
PEAK Performances, Alexander Kasser Theater
Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ
July 2022
Undocumented Migration Project
Anthropologist Jason de Leon (2017) and team members from the Undocumented Migration Project and photographer Wendy Ewald (1992) are organizing a series of workshops in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, focusing on young people from communities across the state, empowering youth to tell their own stories with an emphasis on how migration has impacted their lives. At the end of the second week there will be a public roundtable discussion featuring Jason and Wendy and community members.
Location
Undocumented Migration Project
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
MacArthur x BGC: What is Conservation? (Part III)
Event Time
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ET
A series of conversations between artists, scientists, humanists, and social scientists exploring the significance of conservation as a human practice with consequences for how we think about ourselves and our society, both past and future. With Ubaldo Vitali (2011), Emily Wilson (2019), and Beth Shapiro (2009).
Location
Bard Graduate Center, New York, NY
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
MacArthur x BGC: What is Conservation? (Part II)
Event Time
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ET
A series of conversations between artists, scientists, humanists, and social scientists exploring the significance of conservation as a human practice with consequences for how we think about ourselves and our society, both past and future. With Annette Gordon-Reed (2010), Lauren Redniss (2016), Danielle Bassett (2014), and Stanley Nelson (2002).
Location
Bard Graduate Center, New York, NY
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Expert Series: An-My Lê in Conversation with Viet Thanh Nguyen
Event Time
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. CT
A virtual conversation between An-My Lê (2012), and Viet Thanh Nguyen (2017) on the occasion of Lê’s survey exhibition, On Contested Terrain. The conversation is aimed at exploring the complimentary creative perspectives in Lê’s and Nguyen’s works and presents a unique opportunity for new audiences to consider the modern experiences of identity and place through alternative lenses.
Location
Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Watch a video of the conversation ›
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
MacArthur x BGC: What is Conservation? (Part I)
Time
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ET
A series of conversations between artists, scientists, humanists, and social scientists exploring the significance of conservation as a human practice with consequences for how we think about ourselves and our society, both past and future. With Jeffrey Gibson (2019), Sendhil Mullainathan (2002), Marla Spivak (2010), and Campbell McGrath (1999). Moderated by Dean Peter N. Miller (1998).
Location
BGC: Bard Graduate Center, New York, NY