Residents forage with herbalist Amber Westfal at the Wild Garden.


Residents view specimen at the National Museum of Nature's Herbarium

GERMINATE
Plant School for Artists

10 days in June 2026
Deadline to Apply May 15

With lectures by guest research biologists on:
Photosynthesis, plant/animal relations: pollination and seed spreading, botanical poisons, foraging invasive plants for food and medicine, plant awareness, autonomy & intelligence,

Scientists:
Germinate is a ten day webinar for artists to learn about the Plant kingdom. The program offers daily video lectures and chats with 9 international botanists engaged in cutting edge research that explores biology, ecology and plant behaviour.

Guest scientists will describe a broad range of botanical phenomena from germination to photosynthesis

and attempt to define what it means to be a plant. Scientists will show how they develop their experiments, make observations and interpret their data.

Artists:
Biophilium residencies are designed to facilitate research that will enrich conceptual artists' practice within a small group of like minded creative people. Visual artists, writers, musicians, film makers and dancers are invited to apply. A jury selects a group of artists based on their portfolios and interests. Resident's are invited to present their creative practices to the group. Built into the 2 - 2.5 hours of daily programming are discussions, demonstrations, recommended assignments and show and tell. Participants are invited to also have short daily one-on-one meetings or studio visits with our director and the other residents in the group.

This program is especially designed for artists interested in the lives of plants, their experiences and abilities as well as human uses and botanical philosophies, but you do not need to have any previous naturalist or biology experience to participate. Participants have opportunities to engage directly with scientists and bio artists.

Germinate Plant School for artists is a 10-day program for artists to learn about the Plant Kingdom. The virtual residency consists of daily live video lectures with international botanical researchers on a range of plant related topics & artist talks. You will You will be invited to participate in many short one on one meetings with artists working with plants around the world.

Built in to the 2 - 3 hours of daily lectures are discussions, suggested assignments and show and tell. The program is designed to give insight into plant knowledge from a wide range of perspectives and will offer a space to connect with like minded creative people.

Ayatana residencies are dedicated to facilitating research by conceptual artists. Visual artists, writers, poets, musicians and dancers are invited to apply. This residency will host seven selected international artists. No previous experience in biology is necessary but a portfolio showing your creative practice is required to apply.

You are invited to give a private artist talk to share your work with the group.

Botany 101: A crash course in plant physiology, ecology and autonomy with Biophilium director Alexis Williams.

Plant Intelligence & Botanical Sensory Experiences with the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology

Birds and the Bees: Pollination and seed dispersal

Horticulture, Botanical Gardens and Arboretums

Single Celled Photosynthesizing Organisms

Contemporary Artists Working with Live Plants

Studio Propagation Workshop

Eat the Invasives: Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Plants

Gorilla Planting and Native Plant Rescue for DIY local wildlife conservation

Cost:
$600 USD
Official invitations will be given to accepted applicants to help find grants and funding.

Biophilium and Ayatana alumni are invited to return with a collaborator.
No need to make a new application, if you’ve previously been accepted you’re in. This year you can invite a collaborator to join you in any of our 2026 10-day webinars. 2 artists for the price of one. Give it as a gift or split the fee. Just fill out this form for each of you and send to ArtLovesScience@gmail.com

We are flexible and forgiving with application formats and deadlines. For best results let us know what you do and what you'd like to study with us as early as possible.

Click here to see all the artists who have studied plants with us.

More with the Biophilium this year