Background
The arts and sciences have a multidimensional relationship, with intersection and inspiration that is recurrent and reciprocal. Beyond creativity, the relationship between the arts and the sciences is informed by curiosity, a desire to understand the world, and experimentation. Just as the fine and performing arts can convey scientific concepts, the sciences inform and inspire artistic exploration and invention. Additionally, national and global challenges of the 21st century can and should be addressed by drawing upon the concerted strengths and holistic integration of knowledge of multiple fields. At William & Mary we believe in the power of the ampersand.
Towards this end, the Office of the Provost is pleased to fund a new pilot initiative, the William & Mary Art & Science Exchange (ASE). This program advances interdisciplinary, public-facing exhibitions, performances, workshops, and presentations that promote the power and interplay between art and science, foster collaboration among researchers across W&M schools and the intellectual community beyond, and encourage innovative approaches to developing knowledge for the public good. The goals of the Art & Science Exchange are as follows:
- To encourage synergies between art and science that convey how the disciplines involved complement and enhance one another and broaden understanding of all disciplines involved
- To encourage synergies between art and science that provide students with engaging learning and leadership opportunities, and skills for career readiness
- To encourage synergies between art and science that result in the formation of new knowledge, and/or new or unique solutions to critical local, national, and global issues
- To encourage synergies between art and science that advance university priorities:
a. Alignment with one or more dimensions of the current strategic plan
b. Alignment with one or more dimensions of the Inclusive Excellence Framework
Three teams of competitively selected interdisciplinary collaborations will be featured in a week-long series of public exchanges from March 24-28, 2025. The 2025 ASE Awardees will be named and recognized on November 20th at 5:00pm with a reception in their honor.
Leading up to the public exchange in March 2025, the Art & Science Exchange will host several public events, talks, and workshops. Collectively, these events will:
- Support W&M’s commitment to the arts,
- Promote disciplinary accessibility between researchers in the fine, performing, and visual arts, with researchers in the behavioral, computational, natural, physical, and social sciences,
- Advance new and innovative developments in research, and
- Increase opportunities for applied learning and research experiences for W&M students.
Upcoming Events:
Join us to celebrate the recipients of the 2025 Art & Science Exchange Awards and for an engaging and personal talk by an artist and a scientist on embracing dualities and leveraging the synergy of “and.” Reception to follow.
