Artists and scientists across Scotland are being offered the opportunity to work together on projects that will further research in both fields with funding of up to £38,000.

Following the success of a pilot scheme launched in England last year by Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) and Arts Council England, the Scottish Arts Council has announced it is supporting this year’s programme of Arts and Science Research Fellowships to enable Scottish artists and scientists to benefit from the initiative.

The Fellowships, which can run from six to twelve months, can be undertaken on a full or part-time basis.  The proposed Fellow must be a professional working in any aspect of the creative and performing arts, who can show a commitment to research and some experience of collaboration.  The scientists involved in the collaboration can be working any area of science or engineering.

The Fellowship scheme will allow researchers to work creatively towards common research goals.  The research will contribute to the body of knowledge within science and art, and will explore how art can contribute to science and science to art in terms of different ways of working and thinking.  Among the projects funded in the first round of the scheme were the production of artwork inspired by neuroscience, and an exploration of the contrasts and similarities between biological design, and accepted aesthetics in society.

“Many of the most exciting areas of research lie between and across the boundaries of traditional disciplines or subjects”, explains Professor Geoffrey Crossick, Chief Executive of the AHRB.  “The projects supported in the first round of the scheme are generating innovative and exciting research, and I am delighted that the support of the Scottish Arts Council means that we are now able to open up this opportunity to researchers across the UK.”

“The first round of this scheme, run by the AHRB and the Arts Council was a tremendous success,” says Graham Berry, Director of the Scottish Arts Council.  “We’re really excited about getting involved with this and enabling researchers from Scotland to also benefit from this opportunity.”

“Supporting the individual artist is at the heart of Arts Council England's policies,” adds Peter Hewitt, Chief Executive of Arts Council England.  “This important collaboration with the AHRB and the Scottish Arts Council opens up opportunities for artists to work experimentally in new contexts, and to connect artistic research to leading edge research within the sciences.“