Call for Proposals: CCAM AI Incubator (2026–2027)

The CCAM AI Incubator is now in its second year!

The Yale Center for Collaborative Arts and Media (CCAM)’s AI Incubator, presented in collaboration with AI at Yale, supports arts-forward artificial intelligence projects across the university. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply as project leads.

In recent years, CCAM has produced programs, projects, and research exploring the potential of AI, from the Listening to the Forest sonification app to an experimental opera about Alan Turing. In its first year, the AI Incubator funded five projects spanning intelligent musical instruments, interactive gaming, machine learning for musical gesture, graphic design pedagogy, and public health.

The AI Incubator brings together the creative and curricular collaborations that have built an AI-engaged community across campus, as well as CCAM’s industry partnership with Hewlett-Packard (HP). This year’s grants are supported by AI at Yale.

Individuals or collaborative groups of Yale students, faculty, and staff may apply for one of the CCAM AI Incubator’s $2,500 grants for the 2026–2027 academic year. Any team member, including a student, may serve as project lead.

About

As a complement to Yale’s AI initiative, these grants prioritize projects that explore experimental and creative applications of AI. Our goal is to support projects that push the boundaries of AI in individual creative practice and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Awardees will present their work at a CCAM showcase in Spring 2027.

Eligibility

CCAM welcomes proposals from:

Yale undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staffIndividual creators or cross-disciplinary groups, including student-led teams
We are seeking proposals that:

Innovatively use AI in artistic or performative contextsEngage in interdisciplinary approaches that blend technology and creativityExplore the ethical, societal, or imaginative implications of AI through the artsOffer unique storytelling, visual, auditory, or interactive experiences powered by AI
Proposals will be evaluated based on:

Artistic integrity and originalityPotential for interdisciplinary impactFeasibility and clarity of the project planAlignment with CCAM’s mission
Support

Selected proposals will receive:

Funding to support project development and implementationAccess to CCAM resources, including technical support, mentorship, and space for experimentationOpportunities to showcase completed works through CCAM programming
Key Dates & Details

Deadline: Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM ETNotification Timeline: October 23, 2026 (end of day)Project Period: November 2026 through May 2027
How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following:

A 1–2-page project proposal detailing the concept, objectives, methodology, and anticipated outcomesA budget breakdown outlining how the grant will be usedResumes or CVs of the key project team members
Submit your application materials as a single, compiled PDF file to Dr. Matthew Suttor, CCAM Program Manager, at [email protected] by 11:59 PM ET on October 18, 2026.

Contact

For questions or additional information, please contact Matthew Suttor at: [email protected]