Researcher in Residence Program

View of the Researcher in Residence Studio at the IMRC Center
Researcher in Residence Studio at the IMRC Center

Researcher in Residence Program at the IMRC – Creative Technologists, Intermedia Artists and Experimental Producers.

Image of two dancers in "NO PLAN B"
Gene FeliceImages from “NO PLAN B,” a cross genre collaboration between Alison Chase / Performance and the Coaction Lab (Gene Felice) 2017

Intermedia Program Researcher in Residence (RRP) residencies support the creative research, production and presentation of initiatives in intermedia, experimental arts and a broad range of other creative areas, and their social and cultural application. The residency supports a period of concentration and immersion in creative investigation, cutting-edge research or production of visionary, experimental applications and projects. Potential initiatives might range from live intermedia productions, sound and physical computing works to technical prototypes, installations and tactical media events. The RRP is committed to supporting a diverse and broad ranging creative environment. We consequently encourage applications from the broadest possible range of individuals and creative producers and technologists to this program.

Residency Length
Residencies are offered twice a year, with one residency offered by invitation only and the other by application and juried review. There is one residency in the Fall and one in the Spring semester ranging on average from 4 to 8 weeks in length.

Award
RRP awardees are granted a $2,000 stipend, studio space, access to the IMRC Center’s state of the art digital design, media production, prototyping and fabrication studios, a materials budget of $1,000 and $1000 for IMRC fab lab machine time and tech support, and support for travel costs to and from Orono, Maine. Funding & support for housing during the residency will be provided up to $1500.

Ken Rinaldo & Amy Youngs – our Fall 2017 researchers in residence.
Ken Rinaldo & Amy Youngs the Fall 2017 researchers in residence in front of their work Machine Garden

Eligibility
The ideal resident will both contribute to and benefit from the collective environment at the IMRC Center and the affiliated programs in Intermedia and will embrace the spirit of interdisciplinarity shared across the University of Maine. To promote collaboration and the sharing of diverse skill sets, these programs are grounded in and encourage interdisciplinary research in hybrid applications, innovative problem solving, and their utilization through the full range of research, development and commercialization. The aim of this program is threefold: to foster and support innovative research in Intermedia and New Media at the University of Maine; to build on the University of Maine’s reputation as a center of excellence; and to bring together students and faculty working at the IMRC Center with expert external participants to create a collaborative and innovative creative research environment. Collaborative teams are eligible to apply; the stipend will be split between the members.

Nathan showing two studetns his musical instruments
RIR Nathan Ober showing his experimental instrument produced while in residence at the IMRC

Expectations
During the course of the residency RRP awardees are expected to participate in, and lead, public events including a lecture as part of the visiting artists series through a public presentation of past and current work. In addition to these type of events RRP awardees will be expected to lead a four to five week intensive course or in the case of shorter stays a workshop for graduates students and advanced undergraduates (in Intermedia and New Media) on some aspect of advanced research, development or production related to their own work, interests and skill sets.

For more information and how to apply visit the IMRC center web site.