Cosmic Consciousness Literary Residency

The SETI Institute is accepting proposals for the Cosmic Consciousness Literary Residency for 2026/2027.

Submit your materials by June 1, 2026 to ensure your application is considered.

The SETI Institute Artist in Residence (AIR) Program

The SETI AIR program expands upon the SETI Institute’s mission to explore the origin and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and to share this knowledge with the world. The SETI AIR program connects contemporary artists with SETI Institute researchers and facilitates an exchange of ideas to catalyze new perspectives, insights, and modes of comprehension.

The SETI AIR program comprises five residencies: Planetary Futures (public art), Algorithmic Imaginings (AI art), Speculative Life (bio-art), Cosmic Consciousness (literary arts), and Beyond Silos (interdisciplinary education). These research-creation residencies allow artists to experiment with new approaches, materials, and concepts. The SETI AIR program favors artists whose creative practice is research-based and whose projects theorize and reflect on the scientific research conducted at the SETI Institute. We expect that artists come to the program with a research question that connects to the residency’s theme and artistic discipline. This Call for Submissions is open to all globally.

The Cosmic Consciousness Residency

This residency invites writers and poets working in all areas of literature, including, but not limited to, speculative fiction/sci-fi and experimental writing and poetry. The artworks resulting from this residency should reflect and expand on the SETI Institute’s “Intelligence and Consciousness” research division, whose central science questions are: “What is the nature of consciousness?” and “What is the nature and evolution of intelligence?” At the end of the residency, the resulting texts may be published and presented at a special event that includes readings by the authors.

Areas of creative research may engage with the following topics:

• Experiments in language and consciousness
• Alien intelligence and cultural exchange
• Transhumanism and posthuman consciousness
• AI and consciousness
• Multisensory poetry and multiple intelligences

What We Provide

• Apply now for an opportunity to begin on an 18-month Literary residency, supported by a $10K stipend to develop your vision.
• Writers will have the opportunity for connecting with SETI Institute scientists and partners to develop their projects.
• Projects and Events will be promoted through the SETI Institute's media outreach, including, but not limited to, social media platforms.
• This is a remote residency. Artists will connect with the scientists and residency advisors online. We welcome visits to the SETI Institute in Mountain View and Hat Creek, California, but the artist must arrange travel and accommodation.
• We encourage selected writers to apply for traditional travel and project funding as necessary. The AIR Program will be pleased to assist with letters of support.

Expectations during the Residency

• Resident artists are expected to develop a project (not necessarily a book) on the residency theme.
• Be willing and interested to consult with SETI Institute scientists and partners.
• The Residency begins on October 1 each cycle. During the first year, Residents will present their work directions, issues, and development status to the SETI Institute AIR program. The project will be completed by May of Year 2 and presented at a public SETI Institute event in Year 2.

Applications Process

All submissions must include, in the following order:

• Name, Pronouns, Address, Phone Number
• Optional Self-identification (Queer, IBPOC, those with other varying social, cultural, or neurodiverse perspectives)
• Artist Bio (approx. 150 words)
• Artist Statement outlining an overview of your practice/interests (max. 500 words)
• Residency Proposal, outlining your intended area of research/experimentation/creation (max 500 words)
• Summary outlining a brief, condensed version of your proposal (2 sentences, max. 50 words)
• Current CV (max. 2 pages)
• Outline of anticipated technical equipment and support needed
• Writing Samples (max. 10 pages) including previously published work, works in progress, or images of work (with accompanying Image List)

Be sure to save your submission as a single PDF and email it to [email protected] with "Cosmic Consciousness Submission 2026" in the subject line.

Deadline to submit: June 1, 2026, 11:59pm PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)

Make sure that all required information listed above is included in your application and that the word counts are adhered to. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Residency Advisors
Gregory Betts, Cosmic Consciousness Residency Advisor
Bettina Forget, Director, SETI AIR Program