Open Interval Invites Artists, Scientists and Arts Organizations to Explore ‘Turbulence’
As part of its support for collaborations at the intersection of art and science, the Simons Foundation is welcoming applications from trios of artists, scientists and arts organizers who will explore the theme of “turbulence” as participants in the foundation’s next Open Interval program. Turbulence causes both awe and complexity, and applicants are invited to present how they will integrate the concept into their collective inquiry.
Open Interval is an exploratory initiative that comes with funding, programming as part of a national cohort and, most importantly, unprescribed time for participants to engage in unbound collaboration.
Applications for the program are due by October 21, 2026.
Previous participants report that the program enabled them to push boundaries, generate new ideas and truly experiment without expectations of traditional output. The spirit of this program is to give new ideas space and time to breathe and ferment in the space between the disciplines.
“It was a treasure to have Open Interval’s open-ended exploration and development time with my science collaborator,” says visual artist Marina Zurkow. “We were asked to come in without preconceived notions. Pure exploration led to a rigorously playful work that we believe will have reach and uniquely communicate both biological and ethical content to a wide audience.”
The collaborations offer inspiration and new perspectives for everyone involved, says physicist Rana Adhikari of the California Institute of Technology.
“Working with artists is so valuable and productive for my purely scientific work that I highly recommend this kind of collaboration to any scientist trying to unlock their own creativity,” he says. “It’s easy to get stuck in a tunnel when everyone in the laboratory uses the same tools. Artists use different tools to satisfy their own curiosity, and new tools lead to unexpected discoveries.”
The program’s fostering of collaboration sparks innovation, says Kristan Kennedy, artistic director and curator of visual art at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art.
“This program has created the conditions for sustained dreaming and experimentation, bringing artistic, mathematical inquiry and production together, allowing us to allow new forms and ideas to emerge,” she says. “Working as a trio keeps us bracing each other from all angles, supporting thought and invention while keeping humanness and care at the center.”
Program Details
The Open Interval program will run from April to December 2027, including a collaboration meeting from May 23 to 26, along with additional touchpoints. Each participating trio will be awarded a $30,000 grant.
Over the course of nine months, participants are encouraged to strike their own collaborative rhythms on their terms. We will not dictate how these collaborations unfold, though we will be curious to know what excites applicants about the opportunity and how they intend to use the time. The program is designed to enable artists and scientists to treat turbulence as a jumping-off point for asking questions and modeling ideas, with arts organizations providing facilitation and stewardship.
Review the program’s eligibility criteria here.
To learn more or ask questions, join our webinars on September 25, 2026, and October 5, 2026. We encourage you to send us your questions in advance by September 23, 2026, using this form.
Application Timeline
Sept. 9, 2026 — Application launch
Sept. 23, 2026 — Deadline to contribute webinar questions
Sept. 25, 2026 — First webinar
Oct. 5, 2026 — Second webinar
Oct. 21, 2026 — Application form submission deadline
Nov. 30–Dec. 17 — Virtual interviews for select finalists
Jan. 15, 2027 — Notifications sent to all applicants
May 23–26, 2027 — Open Interval collaboration meeting (a required program component for all participants)
FAQs
What is the application process? The curator or producer from your participating arts organization will begin the process by completing this form. We will then send a unique URL with forms for both your participating artist and your scientist to complete.
In the forms, all three participants will be asked to share a statement. Artists will also be asked to upload work samples and a link to a short video response. We recommend that the curator/producer complete their form well ahead of October 21 to give the other two collaborators time to submit their applications.
How many trios will you accept? We plan to accept 15 trios.
Is there oversight into how arts organizations spend the $30,000? We expect at least one-third of the funding to go directly to the artist as payment for their time. We do not expect the funding to be used for exhibitions. Otherwise, we can offer guidance on how to spend the remainder, but we do not have requirements.
Does the Simons Foundation provide project funding for artworks?
Yes. At the conclusion of Open Interval, awardees will have the opportunity to submit a second application for project funding in late 2027. We are intentionally structuring the first phase of the program to support thought partnership and dialogue before focusing on the output. See our previous awardees.
Do you accept collectives? Artist pairs or small collectives may be a fit for Open Interval. We expect that applying trios will each put forth a single scientist and have one primary contact at their arts organization.
I am both an artist and a scientist. Can I apply as both? No. The central focus of the Open Interval program is collaboration and working with others. We celebrate practitioners who work across multiple disciplines and encourage you to find like-minded collaborators to join your trio.
Can students apply for Open Interval? No, art students are not eligible, and we expect that eligible scientists hold a Ph.D.
Will you offer feedback on my application? Unfortunately, due to the high volume of interest, we cannot offer individual feedback on completed applications or on applications in progress.
How will our application be reviewed? We conduct a thorough review of every trio that submits an eligible application with multiple reviewers from within the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture team, an invited committee of external reviewers composed of arts leaders from throughout the country and a panel of scientific advisors. Applications are considered based on how authentically the trio expresses an interest in working together, the artist’s willingness and ability to drive the collaboration, the scientist’s relevance in basic science and whether this collaboration would be a fruitful opportunity for original ideas.
If an artist and a scientist already know each other, can they apply together? Yes. This program can provide a dedicated period to help you work through new questions and ideas together.
Is the May 2027 collaboration meeting required for all members of our trio? Yes.
Will you accept international applicants? No, this program only supports U.S.-based collaborations. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens but must live in the U.S. for the duration of the program.
Whom did you select last time? This is our previous cohort. Here is an interview with one of the artists about her experience.
Can I reapply to Open Interval if I previously applied and wasn’t selected? Yes.
Can I reapply for Open Interval if I previously participated? To broaden the pool of individual practitioners in this emerging field, we are not currently accepting applications from previously awarded artists and scientists. However, arts organizations may participate again.
