In 2023, the Wave Farm Residency Program will emphasize “feral frequencies,” prioritizing proposals that employ and/or activate less commonly used frequencies within the radio spectrum and the electromagnetic spectrum at large. Applicants are invited to propose visual and sonic projects that fall within the Transmission Arts genre. Projects that prioritize frequencies other than FM and AM allocations will be most competitive. New in 2023, a team of consulting artist engineers will participate in the application review process both for evaluation of feasibility, as well as to identify areas where tool development will assist the proposed projects and inform a growing inventory of resources for future transmission artists.

A sub-genre of the media arts, transmission art is defined as works where the electromagnetic spectrum is an intentional actor (either formally or conceptually) in the work. The electromagnetic spectrum is vast including seven primary types of waves: Radio Waves, Microwaves, Infrared Waves, Visible Light Rays, Ultraviolet Waves, X-rays, and Gamma Rays. Naturally occurring radio waves are emitted by lightning and astronomical objects. Radio-related projects, either conventional radio art works (audio made explicitly for radio broadcast) or do-it-yourself radio-based installation and performance where artists might build their own transmission and receiving devices are common manifestations of transmission art in action. Another common trajectory of the genre is making the ethereal tangible, for example works that demonstrate a physical delineation of space through sonic or visual representation: the architecture of transmission and reception.

Residencies span 10 days and take place June through October. Wave Farm is situated on a beautiful 29-acre property in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountain Park. Each residency will receive a $1,000 artist fee.