Art/Access Lab: Open Lab
Open Labs offer a flexible platform for artists to share, test ideas, and develop perspective on their work through community exchange.
Hybrid Event: Attend in person or via Zoom
Doors at 1:30pm
Event starts at 2:00pm
Event ends at 4:00pm
Art/Access Lab: Open Labs provides artists in the disability community an affinity space for artists to share emerging projects, test ideas, and gain perspective on their work through community exchange.
Attendees are invited to support the creative process by first experiencing emerging projects that are in the development phase, then participating in a moderated conversation that delves into that work. Guided by the needs of the artist, this conversation may explore the themes presented in the work, invite the audience to ask questions and share critique, or the artist may ask questions to the audience regarding their experience of the work.
Open Call to present at the November 2026 Art/Access Lab: Open Lab
Anyone interested in presenting a project is encouraged to fill out the Art/Access Lab: Open Lab Interest Form. The interest form closes Friday, September 18. Selected artists will be notified by October 9.
Art/Access Lab Open Lab Curators
RSVP
Who Should Attend
Art/Access Labs are centered around artists with a lived experience of disability including Deaf, disabled, sick, neurodivergent, and Mad artists, and those working through their relationship to these categories, working in all mediums, with anyone who is invested in fostering a vibrant creative ecosystem inclusive of artists with disabilities.
RSVP forthcoming.
Access Services
This event is intended to be supportive and welcoming for everyone. We will have multiple forms of seating available, as well as stim materials and ear defenders. You are welcome to come and go, bring your own access tools, and move about the space as needed during the event.
ASL interpretation and open captions will be provided.
All speakers will use microphones. Agendas will be provided to all registrants in both text and symbol-based formats. AI Captioning available via zoom. The main event space will not use fluorescent lighting. Face masks are requested except when this presents a language barrier or when one is performing. Please refrain from wearing any scented perfume, cologne, lotion, etc.
For questions or requests regarding accessibility, please contact info@highconceptlabs.org or 312-374-1117.
For Getting to Experimental Station: Free street parking is available. The accessible entrance to Experimental Station is a red door on the east side of the building. The nearest bus stops are the #59 at 61st and Dorchester or the #2, #171, and #172 at 60th and Kenwood. Experimental Station is a few blocks away from the University of Chicago/59th Street Metra Station.
Art/Access Lab Program Team
Aquil Charlton, HCL staff, Program Manager
Sydney Erlikh, UDF member, Art/Access Lab Coordinator
Terri Lynne Hudson, UDF member, Virtual Host
Bradford Chin, UDF member, November Lab Co-Coordinator
Robby Lee Williams, UDF member, November Lab Co-Coordinator
Presented by High Concept Labs and Unfolding Disability Futures with support from Experimental Station.

