STEM

NSF Grants $1.3 Million to UCLA Initiative to Fund Arts and Technology Projects Nationwide

• By Kate Lucariello
• 01/22/24

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $3.1 million grant to the UCLA-led yearlong Innovation, Culture, and Creativity (ICC) project to "bring together experts and stakeholders from creative and technology fields to develop new opportunities at their intersection," according to the university.

The ICC will be overseen by UCLA's Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships, which will coordinate and fund activities nationwide, including regional workshops. An open call has been issued to invite organizations to submit proposals for workshops in 2024. Five workshops will be awarded for around $75,000 each.

An industry summit will be held with NSF during fall 2024, and a national conference at UCLA in December.

The goal is for workshops to convene multidisciplinary groups of experts with backgrounds in STEM and/or the study of culture, arts and humanities and other creative fields, and to "explore support for innovation at the intersection of culture, creativity and technology," the university said.

Applicants are especially invited from a wide variety of organizations across industry, government, academia, and other non-profit organizations who may not have previously received NSF-supported funding.

At the end of 2024, TIP hopes to recommend a five- to 10-year plan to carry on this work with a variety of funders and researchers to encourage ideas from across the U.S.

"This project explores how culture and creativity can be a meaningful part of TIP's goal of engaging all Americans in innovation," said Jeff Burke, professor and associate dean of research and technology for the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. "My hope is that in five years, we'll see a wider range of lasting partnerships between technology research and development and the arts, humanities, and creative sector. I'd love to contribute to a future where people whose ingenuity spans these disciplinary boundaries are supported and encouraged to pursue them together."

Interested teams should submit a concept outline by Feb. 16, 2024. Those selected will need to submit workshop proposals in April, with awards to be announced in May.

Two informational webinars on concept outlines will be held Thursday, Jan. 25, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., PST and on Monday, Feb. 5, from 1 to 2 p.m., PST.

For more detailed information, and to register for the webinars, visit the workshop proposals page.