The Cultural Institute awards fellowships to support and develop emerging creative talent in a variety of different art forms.
Cultural Fellows work with scientists at the University to explore areas of science research and emerging technologies.
Three international artists have been awarded the fellowships. The artists collaborate with research scientists to create new work in an innovative new programme supporting outstanding talent in contemporary art.
For most of us, the Arts and Sciences are traditionally separated. These fellowships aim to spark conversations between the two practices, prompting science researchers to ask new questions and adopt new approaches, while artists are inspired to create extraordinary outputs for the benefit of all.
Our Cultural Fellows
Kat Austen
Kat Austen is an artist and interdisciplinary researcher with a passion for the environment, digital media and understanding the world’s complex networks. Her work focuses on understanding our decision-making in terms of our relationship to the environment, with a particular focus on climate change.
Kat said: "Interdisciplinary research is a particular focus at the University of Leeds, and I'm very much looking forward to working with its Priestley International Centre for Climate among others."
Christophe de Bezenac and Dave Lynch
Christophe de Bezenac and Dave Lynch are Leeds-based artists and makers who have frequently collaborated both with each other and other people through scientists and artist collection, The Superposition.
Dave is an artist, director and inventor working internationally at the intersection of art, science, business and technology across large scale interactive installation and performance. His work has been broadcast on BBC2 and the BBC World Service, and featured on Wired.co.uk, the New York Times and Vice.
Christophe is a composer who has performed at world class venues and festivals in the UK and around Europe, and is also a postdoctoral researcher in cognitive neuroscience with a particular interest in the dynamics of social interaction in health and psychosis.
Dave and Christophe said: "We're excited to be working with the Cultural Institute at the University of Leeds on such an unusual project, bringing together researchers from different disciplines to share scientific research through virtual spaces."