Sanford Underground Research Facility Artist-in-Residence 2027

About this call

The Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), the deepest underground laboratory in the United States at 4,850 feet, in the former Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota, invites artists to create work inspired by the facility and its experiments in physics, biology, geology and engineering. The 2027 residency has two parts: a four-week on-site visit in summer (between May 22 and July 31) with safety training, guided underground visits and studio time, and a one-week visit in October to install an exhibition and give up to two lectures. Each artist also leads outreach events in the local community and donates at least one work to SURF's permanent collection.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: Installation / Mixed Media / New Media / Painting / Photography / Sculpture / Video
• Entry fee: See official site
• Artists in all media may apply, including visual artists, filmmakers, writers and musicians, and should have a strong professional record including major regional, national or international exhibitions or similarly documented experience. Submit as PDF files: a letter of intent and statement explaining your interest and the ways you will contribute to SURF, a short CV (2 to 5 pages maximum), 15 to 20 examples of artwork completed in the last five years (with an image list or another way to identify the work), an anticipated materials budget if already known beyond the $5,000 stipend, and three professional references with contact information. The residency is a four-week summer visit (available dates between May 22 and July 31) and a one-week installation and lecture visit in October, with dates set around the artist's schedule in coordination with SURF. Artists undergo safety training, wear protective equipment on loan from SURF and are accompanied by their guide at all times; they must be comfortable in dark spaces and able to walk on uneven surfaces for at least a mile at a time, and travel underground involves an elevator ride in the dark and wet, slippery conditions. In the fall, artists install and de-install the exhibition, give up to two lectures based on their proposal and hold promotional or outreach events in the local community; each artist donates at least one work, selected by a SURF representative, to SURF's permanent collection. An MOU is signed with SURF.