Carl Craig named artist-in-residence at Michigan State University

Michigan State University has selected Carl Craig, one of Detroit’s most influential electronic music pioneers, as its 2026 MSUFCU Arts Power Up artist-in-residence, marking a rare crossover between techno culture, scientific research, and academic inquiry.

Running from mid-January through April 2026, the residency places Craig in direct collaboration with researchers at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, a globally unique scientific institution dedicated to nuclear physics and rare isotope research. Through this partnership, Craig will explore how sound, technology, and experimental research environments can inform new creative and conceptual frameworks.

Public programs bridging sound, technology, and cultural dialogue

Hosted by the MSU Museum’s CoLab Studio in collaboration with FRIB, the residency was designed to encourage sustained dialogue between artists, scientists, and students across disciplines. As a result, Craig’s work will translate complex scientific systems into artistic expressions that extend beyond the dancefloor, culminating in a new exhibition at the MSU Museum in fall 2026.

Speaking on the appointment, Craig described the opportunity as a chance to work at the intersection of creativity and discovery, highlighting his interest in how experimental research environments can shape new approaches to sound, form, and meaning.

A residency culminating in exhibition, film, and legacy-building work

Throughout the residency, Craig will engage in a series of public programs that reflect the interdisciplinary spirit of MSUFCU Arts Power Up. To begin with, February will see him join jazz bassist Rodney Whitaker for a public conversation at the MSU Museum in celebration of Black History Month. Following this, in March, Craig will take part in a panel discussion on composing music for video games alongside Ryan Thompson and Chris Vrenna. Later in the program, April brings an Artists in Conversation event with Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm of Artificial Mind. Finally, the residency concludes with a screening of Desire: The Carl Craig Story at the Capital City Film Festival, followed by a discussion with Craig and filmmaker Jean-Cosme Delaloye.

Known for consistently expanding the boundaries of electronic music across sound, performance, film, and visual art, Craig’s practice remains rooted in experimentation and systems-based thinking. Consequently, his appointment underscores the growing recognition of electronic music as a serious cultural and intellectual force, capable of engaging with scientific research at the highest level.