SURF opens applications for 2026 Artist in Residence
SURF is seeking applicants for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program. Each year, the SURF AiR program invites a selected artist to create work inspired by the underground research facility and the world-leading experiments it hosts.
Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is seeking applicants for its 2026 Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program. Each year, the SURF AiR program invites a selected artist to create work inspired by the underground research facility and the world-leading experiments it hosts.
SURF’s location, legacy and research make it an ideal place for creative work. SURF is the deepest underground laboratory in the United States, reaching a mile below the surface. It houses experiments in physics, biology, geology and engineering.
The SURF AiR program leverages the unique characteristics of SURF, and the science experiments it hosts, to inspire learning and encourage the interdisciplinary work and creativity necessary to advance world-class science.
This residency is modeled after various programs offered by government, science, and industry, including the National Park Service, CERN, and Fermilab.
Created in 2019, the program is a partnership between SURF and Black Hills State University (BHSU), and is coordinated by Gina Gibson, BHSU professor of graphic communication and SURF’s first artist in residence.
The deadline for application is Nov. 1, 2025. For more information or to apply for the program, visit the SURF AiR webpage. The SURF AiR coordinator, Gina Gibson, can be reached via email at SURF_AiR@Sanfordlab.org.
