SPORELATION@MY-CO BUILD Artist-in-Residence Program

Deadline: 10-Sep-2026

The SPORELATION@MY-CO BUILD Artist-in-Residence Program invites national and international artists from all disciplines to undertake a three-month artistic research residency exploring fungal-based building materials, mycelium, organic matter and sustainable construction. The programme is part of the Collaborative Research Centre MY-CO BUILD at the Technical University of Berlin, an interdisciplinary research initiative bringing together architecture, biotechnology, materials science, engineering and humanities researchers. Selected artists will receive a €5,000 project grant for the three-month residency, along with access to selected research infrastructures and organizational support.

About the SPORELATION@MY-CO BUILD Residency

The Artist-in-Residence Program creates opportunities for artists to work alongside scientific researchers and explore new artistic and material perspectives related to fungi and sustainable construction. MY-CO BUILD investigates sustainable building materials based on mycelium and organic matter. The residency aims to create meaningful dialogue between: - Artistic practice. - Scientific research. - Architecture. - Biotechnology. - Materials science. - Engineering. - Humanities. - Sustainable construction. The programme encourages artists to approach fungal materials through independent artistic research and experimentation. Purpose of the Artist-in-Residence Program The residency is designed to encourage new perspectives on fungus-based materials and sustainable construction.

It provides artists with space to:

- Conduct independent artistic research. - Experiment with materials and processes. - Engage with scientific researchers. - Explore interdisciplinary approaches. - Develop new artistic works or processes. - Participate in the MY-CO BUILD research network. - Examine ecological challenges through artistic practice. The residency is not intended primarily as a tool for communicating scientific findings. Instead, artists are encouraged to develop their own research questions and artistic responses. Funding Available

The residency provides a:

€5,000 project grant The grant covers the three-month residency period. In addition to financial support, selected artists receive: - Access to selected research infrastructures. - Organizational support. - Opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange. - Interaction with researchers within the MY-CO BUILD network. Residency Duration

The residency lasts:

Three months During this period, selected artists will undertake artistic research, experimentation and interdisciplinary exchange while engaging with relevant research activities at MY-CO BUILD. Applicants should ensure that their proposed project is realistic and achievable within the three-month residency period. Themes of the Residency Artists are invited to explore a range of themes connected to fungi, materials, architecture and ecological transformation.

Potential themes include:

- Mycelium as a living material. - Material cycles and transformation. - Biological processes as design partners. - Architecture and organic systems. - The future of construction. - Ecological challenges. - Sustainable building materials. - Relationships between biological systems and designed environments. Artists are not limited to a single artistic interpretation of these themes and are encouraged to develop original approaches. Mycelium as a Living Material Mycelium can be approached not simply as a material but as a living biological system. Artists may investigate what happens when biological processes become part of artistic or architectural thinking. This could include questions around growth, transformation, material behavior and the relationship between living systems and human-made structures. Material Cycles and Transformation The residency also encourages exploration of material cycles. Artists may investigate how organic materials transform, how biological processes influence material development and how new approaches to construction can respond to ecological challenges. Biological Processes as Design Partners Artists can explore the possibility of treating biological processes as collaborators or design partners. This approach can create new perspectives on how art, design, architecture and biological systems interact. Architecture and Organic Systems The relationship between architecture and organic systems is another potential area of artistic research. Artists may investigate how principles found in biological systems can influence approaches to materials, structures, spaces and construction. The Future of Construction The programme encourages artists to consider how construction could evolve in response to ecological challenges. Fungal-based and organic materials can provide a starting point for questioning conventional construction practices and imagining alternative material futures. Collaboration With Scientific Researchers Selected artists will interact with researchers involved in the MY-CO BUILD Collaborative Research Centre. The research centre brings together expertise from multiple fields, allowing artists to engage with perspectives from: - Architecture. - Biotechnology. - Materials science. - Engineering. - Humanities. This interdisciplinary environment is intended to encourage dialogue and exchange rather than requiring artists to adopt a scientific approach to their work. Engagement With Subresearch Projects During the residency, artists will engage with ongoing subresearch projects within MY-CO BUILD. This provides opportunities to learn about current research activities and identify areas where artistic practice and scientific inquiry can interact. Independent Artistic Research The residency gives artists freedom to pursue their own artistic research.

Participants are not expected simply to illustrate or communicate scientific research

Instead, the programme encourages:

- Independent research questions. - Experimental methods. - Art