Cavendish Arts Science Fellowship at Girton College

The annual Cavendish Arts Science Fellowship is delivered in partnership with Girton College thanks to the vision and generous support of Una Ryan.

The Fellowship supports the Cavendish Arts Science ethos of experimenting, decentring and re-imagining. It is designed for artists to develop thought-provoking ideas through engagement with physicists and those in other fields, and to experiment with new approaches to their practice that are transformative and push boundaries.

Our current CAS Fellow is Ugandan contemporary artist, dancer and researcher, Robert Ssempijja.

Previous CAS Fellows

Experimental filmmaker Logan Dandridge brought specific interests in memory, non-linear time and Black experience to his encounters with physicists as the inaugural CAS Fellow.

Artist and composer Ain Bailey brought an interest in multi-channel sound, architectural acoustics and the constellation of sounds that form individual and community identities, to the Fellowship. 

Fellowship Opportunity 2024/25

This unique collaborative opportunity is open to artists internationally and is not confined to any single aesthetic, theme or medium.

Artists with no previous experience of working with scientists or in a scientific environment are particularly encouraged to apply.

We are seeking adventurous artists who explore alternative ways of knowing the world, and who work with communities that are not privileged in the mainstream. The Fellowship offers opportunities for playful experimentation, and the space to re-imagine beyond conventional artistic and scientific boundaries.

Practical Information

The one-year Fellowship will begin in October 2024 and end in October 2025.

The Fellowship includes a residency period in Cambridge, typically of at least six months up to one year. Exact dates of the residency period are flexible and will be agreed with the selected artist.

Financial Support


Please read our Questions and Answers before applying.

Download a copy of the application form questions and word limits here to help prepare your submission

The deadline to apply is Sunday 19 May, 23:59 British Summer Time (GMT+1)

We will only accept submissions received before the deadline.

Questions and Answers

Am I eligible to apply?

Any artist can apply for the Fellowship regardless of medium or practice, nationality or country of residence, as long as the artist is out of full-time education by the start of the Fellowship, over the age of 18 and willing to travel to Cambridge. 

We actively encourage applications from artists with no previous experience of working with scientists or in a scientific environment.

Cavendish Arts Science is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all, regardless of sex, race, colour, religion and belief, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, gender identity, gender expression or disability. Please refer to the University of Cambridge's Equal Opportunities Policy for further information.

Is there a cost to apply?

There is no charge for submitting an application.

I have a question about accessibility

For questions about accessibility or to discuss any needs you may have, whether related to the application process or the Fellowship itself, please email us on contact@cavendish-artscience.org.uk

What are the expectations of the Fellowship?

The Fellowship supports the Cavendish Arts Science ethos of experimenting, decentring and re-imagining. The Fellowship will provide the selected artist with the opportunity to

  • develop thought-provoking ideas through engagement with physicists and those working in other fields
  • experiment with new approaches to their practice 
  • make progress in developing new work that will be presented during the Fellowship and beyond

Can I apply jointly with another artist?

We accept joint applications from artist partnerships. As part of your application,we expect you to provide practical details of how the partnership plans to creatively engage with the Fellowship. 

The partnership will be expected to adapt to the provisions of the Fellowship, including the following: our budget is fixed at the level described, including the amount of stipend and other financial support; accommodation is based on single-occupancy and meals at Girton College are provided for one person. 

Can I present my work in a language other than English?

We encourage applications from artists of all nationalities and languages.

We ask for written sections of the application form to be submitted in English.

You may upload examples of work in another language but if you are concerned about communicating your ideas to the selection panel, you may choose to translate parts of your accompanying materials before submission.

Interviews will be conducted in English. Translation can be arranged if you are more comfortable in another language - please indicate this in your application. 

Can I begin my submission online, save it and return to complete it later?

Please submit your application using our online form only

We apologise, it is not possible to save your online submission and return to it later. We recommend preparing your application in a separate document that you can back up on your computer, pasting the text into the form, and filling in any links or uploading attachments when you are almost ready to submit. 

You can download a copy of the questions and word limits from this link to help prepare your submission. This document also gives details of the formats and maximum file size of attachments that can be uploaded. 

Please note that we will only accept submissions received before the deadline.

How will the selection process work and what are the key dates?

The deadline for submissions is Sunday 19 May 2024, 23:59 British Summer Time (GMT+1) 

Eligible applications received before the deadline will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals with expertise in a range of art forms and practices, and a longlist of applicants selected.

A separate panel of final selectors will include artists, physicists, arts professionals, a Girton College Fellow and the Cavendish Arts Science Director. The panel will review longlisted applications and identify artists to be invited for interview.

Interviews with the final panel will take place on zoom in the week beginning 15 July.  Artists selected for interview will be notified a few days before to confirm a time.

Previous panelists have included Rachel Anderson, Mete Atatüre, Gemma Bale, Rob Bowman, Dominic Czechowski, Siân Ede, Jade Foster, Natasha Freedman, Johnny Golding, Imani Mason Jordan, Elisabeth Kendall, Ariane Koek, Haroon Mirza, Anna Nickerson, Harold Offeh, Amanprit Sandhu, Suchitra Sebastian, Devika Singh, Cindy Sissokho and Susan Smith. 

Will I need to come to Cambridge for an interview?

No, all interviews will be held remotely on Zoom

When and where will the Fellowship take place?

The Fellowship will begin in October 2024 and end in October 2025. 

It is flexible and part-time.

It involves a residency period in Cambridge, typically of at least six months up to one year.  For the rest of the Fellowship year, the artist can engage remotely.

The artist will be welcomed into the Cavendish Laboratory, and during the residency period, will be accommodated at Girton College.

The structure and dates of the residency period are flexible and will be responsive to the individual circumstances of the selected artist. The residency period may be split across two visits within the Fellowship year.

Where feasible, the selected artist will be encouraged to come to Cambridge in early October for the start of the academic year and induction of new Fellows, but we do not expect time spent in Cambridge to be structured precisely to match term dates.

What accommodation is offered?

Rent-free accommodation is provided at Girton College during the residency period in Cambridge.  The accommodation includes a kitchen for self-catering.

As part of the fellowship, the selected artist will normally be elected Visiting Fellow Commoner in the Arts at Girton College and as a Visiting Fellow Commoner, will be entitled to free meals in college, subject to the normal opening hours of the college kitchens.  

Visits from partners/family will be accommodated where possible. This may incur additional costs that would not be covered by the programme. Family members would be able to access meals in college at a subsidised level.

Girton College is a family-friendly college. Children can eat in the cafeteria and in the social hub or use the pool and play in the gardens if supervised by a parent/adult. The programme cannot directly fund the cost of or provide care that may be required during the residency (for example, creche or nursery costs, child minders, or other professional carers).

Is a studio provided?

Yes, a studio / creative workspace will be made available at Girton College during the residency period, in addition to flexible working spaces at the Cavendish Laboratory.

Will I need a visa?

Depending on the length of time spent on the residency period in Cambridge and the country from which you are travelling, you may require a visa. Details can be found on the UK government website.

Visa fees can be met from our travel budget and we can provide appropriate documentation to support visa applications related to the Fellowship (though not for applications for visas to cover other types of activity).

Can I work whilst on the Fellowship?

The Fellowship is not expected to be a full-time engagement. You are welcome to continue ongoing commitments, jobs or projects that are compatible with meeting the expectations of the Fellowship, whether during the residency in Cambridge or at other times during the year.

You should only undertake other paid work in the UK if you have a legal right to do so.

Where can I find out more about physics and the Cavendish Laboratory?

The Department of Physics website is the best source of information about the Cavendish Laboratory and Physics at the University of Cambridge. You can also find out more on these channels Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok

Where can I find out more about Girton College?

You can find more information on the Girton College website and on their social channels Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , YouTube

When can I expect to hear about whether I have been successful?

We will send an email notification to all applicants once the selection process has been completed. Please make sure the contact details you provide on the submission form will be current until the selection process is finished.

We are a small team and sadly can't offer individual feedback on submissions from applicants who aren't selected for interview.  Thank you for your understanding. 

I have another question

Please contact us at contact@cavendish-artscience.org.uk to ask us about anything else.  Please note we are a small team working part time and may take a few days to reply. Thanks for your understanding.

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