The MSU Museum and the Games for Entertainment and Learning (GEL) Lab have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Humanities and Arts Research Program Large-Scale Development Grant to support the creation of Game Changers, an immersive exhibition exploring the societal, cultural and technological impact of video games. Designed to resemble a modern arcade, the exhibition is a collaborative effort between the MSU Museum and the GEL Lab, a nationally recognized leader in video game research and innovation.

 

Funded by the MSU Research Foundation and the Office of Research and Innovation, HARP grants are intended to support faculty-led arts and humanities projects. The Large-Scale Development Grant supports substantial creative and performance-based initiatives, helping faculty develop projects with potential for global distribution and enhanced institutional recognition. Charles Hasemann, associate vice president for research and innovation, said, “OR&I introduced the Large-Scale HARP program just three years ago, recognizing that the scale of the traditional HARP awards was not sufficient to launch some of the great ideas we were seeing. With the enhanced funding available through the Large-Scale program, we are now supporting great projects like this exhibition, as well as feature-length films.”

The project, co-led by Mark Sullivan, creative director of the MSU Museum’s CoLab Studio, and Brian Winn, director of the GEL Lab, explores the interdisciplinary impact of gaming. Sullivan, an associate professor in the College of Music, is a composer, photographer and educator who integrates technology, creativity and education through his work at the MSU Museum, where he leads experimental projects that redefine informal learning. Winn, a professor of media and information and founder of the GEL Lab, specializes in meaningful play and game design, developing award-winning games that address societal challenges and advance gaming research.

“This project represents a bold step for the MSU Museum as we redefine what it means to be a 21st-century interdisciplinary museum,” Sullivan said. “By leveraging the creativity of the GEL Lab and our innovative CoLab Studio, we’re setting the stage for an experience that blends cutting-edge research with meaningful public engagement.”

Visitors to Game Changers will have the opportunity to play games developed by MSU students and faculty, as well as notable titles from the gaming industry. Through interactive gameplay and commentary, the exhibition will prompt reflection on themes related to health and medicine, technology, environmental studies, and innovation.

“This collaboration between the MSU Museum and the GEL Lab provides an unparalleled opportunity to amplify our research while offering students and visitors a platform to explore the transformative power of gaming,” Winn said.

The HARP grant will fund the design and fabrication of the exhibition, including custom arcade cabinets, interactive displays, and adaptable digital labeling to ensure the content remains current.

The Game Changers exhibition is scheduled to open in 2027, following major renovations at the MSU Museum. It will serve as a flagship demonstration of the museum’s strategic mission to catalyze creativity and engage diverse audiences.

This story was originally featured on MSU Museum website.