Heritage Philadelphia Program Awards $650,000 to Regional Historic Sites and Museums
Philadelphia (March 5, 2007)—The Heritage Philadelphia Program announces grants totaling $650,550 to seven historic sites and museums in the Philadelphia area, each undertaking outstanding projects in history programming and historic preservation.
This year’s grant recipients, in alphabetical order, are as follows:
American Philosophical Society ($123,700): The Museum of the American Philosophical Society will work with artists Stacy Levy, Winifred Lutz, Brett Keyser and Roderick Coover to produce art installations, performances and a web-based artwork related to the exhibition “UNDAUNTED: Five American Explorers, 1760-2006,” opening in June 2007. The works, many of which will be installed outdoors in publicly accessible space around Independence National Historical Park, will provide a creative and dynamic exploration of the exhibition’s themes, including mapping, ecology and the nature of exploration itself.
Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery ($97,900): This historic cemetery, which borders Fairmount Park, will plan the “Urban Mourning Program.” Working with artists, scholars, psychologists and community groups, Laurel Hill will develop a program for young people whose lives have been affected by violence. Based on the contemporary phenomenon of spontaneous memorials and incorporating the history of mourning, the program will seek to help participants better understand their loss and identify creative, productive outlets for self expression.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania ($150,000): Working closely with community organizations, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania will implement a neighborhood history project tentatively called “PhilaPlace.” The project, which will focus initially on the neighborhoods of Southwark/South Philadelphia and Greater Northern Liberties, includes online resources, neighborhood tours and community-based programs.
Philadelphia Museum of Art ($74,800): The museum will mount three “trial exhibitions” at Mount Pleasant, an 18th century historic house in Fairmount Park described by John Adams in 1775 as "the most elegant Seat in Pennsylvania" which is administered by the museum. These installations, based on the themes of “biography,” “craftsmanship,” and “lifestyle” will be tested with visitors to assist the museum in developing a new interpretation for the house.
Rosenbach Museum and Library ($29,150): The Rosenbach will convene a group of scholars and technology experts to assist them in planning the “Abraham Lincoln Digital Community Project.” The project, which will take place in 2009 for the Lincoln bicentennial, will use the museum’s Lincoln collections to explore his words and ideas through an innovative web-based program of artists’ projects, an ongoing blog and an online exhibition.
Shofuso, Japanese House and Garden ($75,000): Preservation work on this unique, shoin-style building in Fairmount Park will include conservation of the veranda, walls and doors of this. The work will be performed on-site by Japanese craftsmen, using traditional materials and techniques appropriate to the building. In addition to the preservation work, murals painted by contemporary artist Hiroshi Senju will be installed in the interior of the house. Workshops for the public will accompany the preservation work.
Stenton NSCDA-PA, on behalf of Historic Germantown Preserved ($100,000): Historic Germantown Preserved, a collaborative of ten historic sites located in Germantown, including Cliveden, Awbury Arboretum and Wyck, will undertake a collective planning process to explore joint marketing, scheduling, and programming opportunities.
Both Shofuso and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are first-time Heritage Philadelphia Program grant recipients.
HPP awards are awarded on a competitive basis and are selected by a distinguished national panel of experts in the fields of museum and historic site management, preservation architecture, exhibitions and interpretive programming. This year, the panel included:
David Kahn, Director of the Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans, LA, who served as panel chair
Benjamin Filene, Director of Public History, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC
Steven Newsome, Director, Prince George's Arts Council, Hyattsville, MD and former Director,
The Anacostia Community Museum, Washington, DC
Mary Oehrlein, Principal, Oehrlein and Associates Architects, Washington, DC
Pieter Roos, Executive Director, Newport Restoration Foundation, Newport, RI
Liz Sevcenko, Director, International Coalition of Historic Site Museums of Conscience, New York, NY,
and former Vice President for Interpretation, Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York, NY.
The Heritage Philadelphia Program (HPP) is located at the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage, shich is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by the University of the Arts. HPP supports history exhibits and programs and the preservation and public interpretation of significant historic buildings in the region. Support is provided through grant funding as well as professional development activities designed to inspire exciting mission-focused programming and foster organizational capacity. The Heritage Philadelphia Program aims to encourage programming and interpretation that is grounded in contemporary scholarship and engaging for local residents as well as tourists. Five to fifteen grants are awarded annually, ranging from $5,000 to $150,000, to projects that fit within the guidelines, goals and outcomes of the Program. Since it was established in 1998, the Heritage Philadelphia Program has supported 166 projects totaling $6.1 million.
“The highly competitive selection process for this year resulted in awards for adventurous projects that showcase our history community’s imagination and collaborative spirit, as well as their scholarship and civic awareness. These projects not only meet the standards of best practice in the field at large, they will also result in a range of interpretive programs that will engage a broad public in our region,” notes HPP Interim Director, Paula Marincola.
Opened in November 2005, the Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage (PCAH) houses seven existing initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trusts. These programs are dedicated to assisting cultural organizations in the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region in developing high-quality public programs and effective management practices. PCAH is the home ofDance Advance, Heritage Philadelphia Program, Pew Fellowships in the Arts, Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative, Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative, Philadelphia Music Project, and Philadelphia Theatre Initiative. The Philadelphia Center for Arts and Heritage is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by The University of the Arts. For more information, visit www.pcah.us.
The Pew Charitable Trusts (www.pewtrusts.org) is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life. It partners with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations and concerned citizens who share a commitment to fact-based solutions and goal-driven investments to improve society.
The University of the Arts is the nation’s first and only university dedicated to the visual, performing and communication arts. Its 2,300 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs on its campus in the heart of Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. Its history as a leader in educating creative individuals spans more than 130 years. For further information about The University of the Arts call 215.717.6000, or visit www.uarts.edu.
