Institutional partnerships
Build the field
with us.
Open Universe partners with universities, foundations, museums, and public-facing organizations to place, exhibit, and advance the work of contemporary artists with disabilities on a national and international stage.
Your institution provides the platform. We provide the infrastructure, the artists, and the collection.
Who we partner with.
Universities & colleges
Exhibition loans, co-presentations, and collection placements. We provide the works, the context, and the artist relationships — your institution provides the platform.
Foundations & funders
Program partnerships, grant-aligned placements, and collaborative initiatives that extend the reach of both organizations and create measurable impact in the field.
Museums & galleries
Traveling exhibitions, co-curated presentations, and collection loans. Open Universe connects your institution to the full depth of the progressive studio network.
Every institutional partnership through Open Universe is built around your goals — whether that's a single exhibition loan or a long-term co-presentation program.
- Exhibition loans from the Living Collection — fully managed by our team
- Co-curated presentations connecting your institution to artists and studios
- Traveling exhibitions available for regional and national touring
- Artist introductions, studio visits, and public programming support
- Impact documentation and reporting for grant and board reporting
- Long-term partnership structures that grow alongside your programming
A note on community placements: Open Universe also places works in senior centers, hospitals, and libraries through our exhibition loan program. These placements are structured as formal loans — Open Universe retains ownership and manages the relationship — ensuring the work and the artist are always protected.
Exhibition loan
Works from the Living Collection placed in your institution for a defined period. Open Universe manages logistics, documentation, and artist communication throughout.
Co-presentation
A jointly organized exhibition or program bringing Open Universe artists into your institution's programming — with shared curatorial input and public engagement.
Traveling exhibition
A touring presentation that moves through multiple institutional venues — expanding visibility for artists and building the distributed museum network across regions.
Collection placement
Works acquired or placed into your institution's permanent or long-term collection — building lasting exhibition history for the artists and their studios.
Research partnership
Collaborative research, documentation, and publication programs that advance scholarship on progressive studio practice and disability arts at an institutional level.
Custom program
We work with institutions to build programs aligned with specific goals, missions, and funding structures. Every partnership begins with a conversation.
Works available for placement
Ready to build
something together?
Every partnership begins with a conversation. Tell us about your institution and what you're looking to create.