Michigan State University has appointed Carl Craig as its 2026 MSUFCU Arts Power Up artist-in-residence, marking a rare and compelling crossover between electronic music culture, scientific research, and higher education.
The residency runs from mid-January through April 2026, positioning one of Detroit’s most influential techno pioneers at the heart of an academic environment built on experimentation and discovery.
Collaboration With a World-Leading Research Facility
Central to Craig’s residency is his collaboration with the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) — a globally unique institution dedicated to advanced nuclear physics research.
Through this partnership, Craig will explore how sound, technology, and experimental research systems can inform new artistic and conceptual approaches. The goal is not simply to translate science into sound, but to uncover shared structures between creative and scientific thinking.
Turning Complex Systems Into Art
The residency is hosted by the MSU Museum’s CoLab Studio in collaboration with FRIB and is designed to foster long-term dialogue between artists, scientists, and students across disciplines.
Craig’s work will interpret complex scientific processes through artistic expression, pushing his practice beyond the dancefloor and into new cultural and intellectual territory. The residency will culminate in a new exhibition at the MSU Museum in fall 2026.
Public Programs and Cultural Dialogue
Throughout the program, Craig will participate in a series of public-facing events that reflect the interdisciplinary spirit of MSUFCU Arts Power Up.
In February, he will join acclaimed jazz bassist Rodney Whitaker for a public conversation at the MSU Museum as part of Black History Month programming.
In March, Craig will take part in a panel on composing music for video games, alongside Ryan Thompson and Chris Vrenna.
In April, he will appear in an Artists in Conversation event with Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrøm of Artificial Mind.
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.
Expanding the Role of Electronic Music
Known for consistently pushing the boundaries of electronic music across sound, performance, film, and visual art, Craig’s work has long been rooted in experimentation and systems-based thinking.
His appointment at Michigan State University reflects a broader cultural shift — one that recognizes electronic music as a serious artistic and intellectual force, capable of engaging with scientific research at the highest level.
For Carl Craig, the residency is not a departure from his legacy, but a natural extension of it.
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