The Foundation prepares exhibition projects in full — concept, selection of works, display design, texts, catalogue — and seeks venues willing to host them. A project may arrive complete, or be composed for a particular space and around the host’s own collection; the second is of greater interest to the Foundation, because it generally yields material that neither party had on its own. The Foundation is equally prepared to work with institutions running a permanent exhibition programme and with one-off venues.

What is required from the partner is a space with environmental control and security, local logistics, and work with the public. The research and curatorial work, the texts, the publication, and the insurance and transport of the Foundation’s works are either taken on by the Foundation or divided by agreement. The collaboration also works in the opposite direction: the Foundation lends works from its collection to exhibitions organised by others, on the basis of gratuitous loan.

The Foundation’s Articles of Association expressly provide for the exhibition of works belonging to third parties on the basis of gratuitous loan. The work remains the property of its owner; the Foundation does not act as its seller, takes no part in any sale, and charges no fee for exhibiting it. Where the owner prefers, the name is not disclosed and the work is credited as "Private collection".

What the owner receives. The work is researched, catalogued and published with a full scholarly essay. Its condition is recorded before and after exhibition. Insurance cover applies nail to nail, for the whole period the work is away. For many works from private collections this is a first documented appearance in public and a first entry in their exhibition history.

The Foundation’s collection is a research resource rather than a public museum. Access to objects, supporting material and high-resolution images is granted on request to researchers, museum staff and authors. The collection is not published as a whole; specific sections are made available for specific enquiries.

The Foundation is particularly interested in joint research projects and in the technical study of objects: materials analysis, multispectral imaging and condition surveys. The Foundation is prepared to make objects available for such work and to contribute to its funding. One condition applies: the results are published, with the source of the material stated.

The Foundation’s educational work covers the history of material culture, visual semiotics and the technologies of art. Lectures and courses are given both at the Foundation’s own premises and elsewhere: at universities, museums, libraries and cultural centres.

Formats are open to discussion: a single lecture, a series, a staff seminar, a public programme around an exhibition, or a guest contribution to another institution’s educational programme.