"We’re Not Decorators": Fostering Interdisciplinary Exchange in STEM–Artist Collaborations

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the relationship between art and HCI. New HCI research draws on artistic practices as a source of design inspiration, turns to the arts for assistance in solving wicked problems, or uses design research to understand artistic collaboration. Despite the widely noted potential of art-HCI research, the relationship between the two fields remains poorly understood, and precise descriptions of what makes art-HCI collaboration successful remain elusive. In this paper, we look at artist-in-residence (AiR) programs within STEM organizations as a way of learning about these collaborations. Drawing on interviews with individuals with recent involvement in these programs, we identify a series of design considerations for these residencies and note recurring concerns. Finally, we argue that many challenges in these programs arise from the instrumentalization of art, and recommend ways to foster more meaningful relations through AiR programs.