Eastern State Penitentiary 2007

Proposal Deadline: Friday, June 30, 2006, 5:00 p.m.


Orientation: Artists should begin the application process by attending an art orientation tour. This will give the artists a chance to walk through the space, discuss what makes a successful proposal, ask questions, and observe visitors' viewing the current art installations. Reservations are not accepted. Simply check in at the historic site ticket office at least ten minutes prior to the start of the orientation tour. There is no charge to attend. All applicants must attend an orientation tour unless other arrangements have been made with Brett Bertolino.

Weekdays at 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 25
Wednesday, June 28

Weekends at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 11
Saturday, June 24

Proposals Due: Friday, June 30, 2006, 5:00 p.m.

Eastern State Penitentiary
Administrative Offices
2124 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Artists Notified Via Email By: Monday, July 31, 2006

Eligibility:
• Artist must attend an art orientation tour prior to submitting a proposal.
• Collaborative proposals are permitted; however, each artist may only submit one proposal per year.
• Artists who have previously exhibited at the site must wait five years before submitting a proposal for a new installation.
• Currently enrolled undergraduate students are ineligible to apply.

Exhibition Conditions: Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark, the highest designation for an historic property under Federal Law. It is also a ruin, abandoned in 1971, and stands today as an architectural shell. The building has no running water, no heat, no air conditioning, and limited electrical service. These conditions can be destructive to many types of materials. Most artists working at Eastern State build their work for the space and incorporate the inevitable deterioration into the piece.Because of the building's condition, neither Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc. (the organization that administers the historic site) nor the City of Philadelphia (the owner of the site) can be responsible for damage to art work inside Eastern State Penitentiary. The historic site carries insurance for the safety of the public while in the complex, and of the artists during the installation process, but not for the value of the art installations on display.

Funding: A maximum of $2,500 is available from the historic site's exhibition budget for any given artist. Some artists may be invited to exhibit, but funded at a lower level.

Complete Details available at the website: http://www.easternstate.org/exhibits/guidelines2007.html

Contact:
Brett Bertolino
Assistant Program Director for Operations & Special Events
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Offices
2124 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Office: (215) 236-5111 ex. 12
Fax: (215) 236-5289
E-mail: bb@EasternState.org