Open Interval

What does it look like when an artist and a scientist spend meaningful time thinking together in open-ended exploration? That is the question at the heart of Open Interval, a program that supports trios of artists, scientists and arts organizations to come together around a shared scientific theme and spend several months following their curiosity. Trios are invited to submit applications via an open call.

A large group of people pose together outdoors on a paved area in front of green grass and trees, smiling at the camera. — The 2025 Open Interval cohort, whose collaborations were organized around symmetry. Arin Sang-urai

Program Overview

Awardees receive funding, programming alongside a national cohort, and several months to undertake collective research and inquiry on their terms. We do not expect participants in the Open Interval program to produce an output; on the contrary, we aim to create the conditions for unbound exploration.

At the conclusion of the Open Interval process, it is possible to submit a project proposal for an artwork or performance.

How the Trio Functions

Artists are at the center of this program. They lead the vision and creative direction of the collaboration and process, and bring an authentic desire to collaborate with a scientist.

Scientists integrate their research and unique perspective, drawing tenets of basic science into new, creative forms.

Arts organizations act as partners in the creative process, providing key infrastructure and support to sustain the collaboration. They understand the possibilities for expression from ideation to production, where concepts can become commissions.