You’re invited to ON DISPLAY HARVARD 2025, a movement installation that is part of a worldwide social justice initiative titled ON DISPLAY GLOBAL, created by physically-integrated dance company Heidi Latsky Dance. Communities across the globe annually perform the work on December 3rd in commemoration of the U.N.’s  International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). 

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 10th anniversary of ON DISPLAY GLOBAL. 

The Office for the Arts (OFA) Dance Program has been an ambassador of ON DISPLAY GLOBAL since 2018, each year presenting ON DISPLAY HARVARD at accessible locations across campus and virtually, building a community of partners and diverse performers to bring awareness of disability justice, art, and culture to Harvard's campus and beyond.

This year, ON DISPLAY HARVARD returns for the third time to the Calderwood Courtyard in Harvard Art Museums, free and open to the public. Performers– a mix of Harvard students, alumni, staff, faculty, and community members– will create sculptural compositions of their own making which will slowly evolve in real time over the course of the hour. 

The work comments on the body as spectacle, expands and challenges normative notions of beauty, and celebrates disability as an aspect of our individuality and affirmation of our humanity. In this installation, performers have the power to choose what they do and do not reveal, while audience members wander through the installation at their own pace and trajectory to view each performer up close. The work explores the tenuous and complex relationship between the viewer and viewed, potentially blurring the lines while claiming agency for both. 

Performers will wear unique art pieces created by Harvard undergraduate students, led by Sarah Yee ‘28 and Helen Hou ‘28. 

RSVP (appreciated but not required)

Organizational Partners: Harvard Art Museums, Heidi Latsky Dance, The Harvard Foundation, and Boston Architectural College
Student Group Partners: Conflux and Harvard Undergraduate Disability Justice Club
Wearable Art Advisors: Rosa Weinberg and Hannah Wong GSD'24
Artistic Coordinator: Ava Louise Majumder HGSE'19

ACCESSIBILITY

Sighted guides and live in-person audio description will be offered throughout the installation for blind and visually impaired audiences; a pre-show tactile tour with description of wearable art will be offered at 11:30am. Meet at Quincy St. entrance at 11:30am for pre-show, and 12pm for installation. Late visitors will still be able to join the tour. 

The Harvard Art Museums building is accessible for visitors using wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

If you anticipate needing any additional type of access service or if you have any questions about attending ON DISPLAY HARVARD 2025 at Harvard Art Museums, please contact dance@fas.harvard.edu and 617-496-0314. We welcome the conversation!