Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin. Deadline: June 15, 2010.

The Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site now seeks proposals for its 2011 tour season and beyond.

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 virtually no running water, no climate control, 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 work on site. The historic site carries insurance for the safety of the public while in the building, and of the artists during the installation process, but not for the value of the art installations on display.

Electricity is available in several places. Most locations do not have electric service and artists may wish to include electrical installation in these areas of the penitentiary as part of their proposal and budget. Please contact us about soliciting cost estimates for this work. Electrical installation must meet strict guidelines and be completed by the historic site???s electrical contractor. Extension cords are limited to one 9-foot cord from the outlet to the unit requiring power.

Because of Eastern State’s historic designation, art installations may not permanently damage or alter the building or artifacts inside the penitentiary complex in any way without prior written approval. This approval process includes what might seem to be relatively minor damage, such as nailing into plaster, taping or painting surfaces, brushing paint from the walls, or removing debris. Failure to account for this restriction eliminates many proposals for artist installations. Many artists have found creative ways to install work that creates an illusion of permanence, but is reversible. Staff are happy to share examples of previous solutions to these challenges. Please contact us.

Eligibility

• Collaborative proposals are permitted; individuals may submit only one proposal per year (whether alone or as part of a collaboration).
• 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.
• All proposals must be for a site-specific installation.

Funding
The historic site will fund a maximum $7,500.00 per project. This funding includes approval to exhibit during the next exhibition cycle. All projects that are approved will be installed for one full tour season (March through November), unless the artist proposal states otherwise.

Please read the comprehensive guidelines here carefully

Proposal Deadline (for all funding and approvals):

Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 4:00 pm At Eastern State Penitentiary: Attn: Sean Kelley Eastern State Penitentiary 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Notes: This is not a deadline for a postmark, but for delivery at the historic site. There is a 24-hour grace period for all applications. Applications received after 4 pm on June 16, 2010 will not be reviewed. Emailed applications are not accepted.

Contact:
Sean Kelley, Program Director, sk@EasternState.org, (215) 236-5111 x13