Satellite Reef – Introduction to the Program

If your institution would like to host a Satellite Reef, please read this page in its entirety and submit an Inquiry to the Institute For Figuring. We require all institutions to sign a contract and agree to a programming fee before you begin. 

As of 2022, 50 Satellite Reefs  have been made around the world,  in New York, London, Melbourne, Latvia, Germany, Finland, the UAE, and many other places. More than 20,000 people have contributed corals, making this one of the largest community art projects in the world. Creating a Satellite Reef means that you get official inclusion in the Crochet Coral Reef community and it’s affiliated media. A Satellite Reef is usually conducted over 6-12 months with an exhibition of the finished Reef in a dedicated space. We can only partner with institutions, and cannot undertake to do Satellite Reefs with individual artists or artist collectives. We do not give permission to any organization to do the project without first signing an official agreement.

Partnership Agreement and Programming Fee

A Satellite Reef begins with a host institution – a gallery, museum, college, etc. The Institute For Figuring (IFF) determines a programming fee based on geographical scope of the proposed Reef and the project duration. There is a formal Partnership Agreement host institutions are required to sign before you start. The IFF will then provide assistance with all stages of planning and production. The project is truly grassroots and participation tends to be exponential, so the longer you run the bigger your Reef will become. The host institution must also provide dedicated personnel and resources.

IFF Support

The IFF has worked with many venues and we can advise on all aspects of the project, including community organizing and creating the finished installation. We also provide a beautiful How-To Crochet Hyperbolic Coral brochure, plus wall texts about the project content describing the mathematics, environmental impact, global warming, and community art practice. All official Satellite Reefs are acknowledged on our website and related materials, including our books. The contextualization of your Satellite Reef within the larger Crochet Coral Reef community is paramount to its strength.

To Get Started

Please send an email with the following information:

• A brief introduction to your institution and proposed timeframe for making your Satellite Reef.
• Name of the venue where your Reef would be exhibited.
• Name, position, and contact info for person making the inquiry

Send email to: mail@theiff.org