Pew Center for Arts and Heritage

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Wherever There is Light

TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image
Larry W. Cook, The Visiting Room #2. Photo by the artist.
Larry W. Cook, The Visiting Room #2. Photo by the artist.
Larry W. Cook, Horizons, 2022. Photo by the artist.
Larry W. Cook, Horizons, 2022. Photo by the artist.
Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, The Women's Mobile Museum, 2018, installation view, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Photo Arts Center.
Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, The Women's Mobile Museum, 2018, installation view, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Photo Arts Center.

A group of formerly incarcerated artists shares their stories and considers the role of art and photography within the US penal system as it relates to themes of surveillance, portraiture (i.e., “mug shots”), and vernacular photography in visiting rooms. Photo and video artist Larry W. Cook, whose work speaks to representation of Black communities and culture, leads a project team that provides the artists with professional support and peer-to-peer mentorship. Scholar Dr. Melanee Harvey serves as curator, bringing academic expertise in carceral activism and image making. An exhibition of new works addresses the effects of mass incarceration on people’s lives, families, and communities. An accompanying website offers essays, documentation of the artists’ processes, and resources on criminal justice reform.

The total grant amount represents project funding plus an additional 20% in unrestricted general operating support.

Recipient
TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image

TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image

TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image (formerly known as the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center) is an artist-focused institution centered on the importance of contemporary image-making as an ever-evolving art form. The organization offers exhibitions, events, educational programming, and residencies. TILT is a resource for both practicing artists as well as individuals interested in learning about all aspects of contemporary photography.

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News

$9.5 Million From The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage to Support 30 Philadelphia Organizations and 12 Artist Fellowships

Sep 19, 2022
Explore Connections
Carl Cheng: Nature Never Loses, 2025 installation view, Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania. Photo by Constance Mensh.

Artist Carl Cheng on the Nature of Being Contemporary
Interview Tradition & Translation
Mary Testa, Taylor Trensch, and Jordan Dobson in Night Side Songs at Philadelphia Theatre Company. Photo by Nile Scott Studios.
Director Taibi Magar on Night Side Songs and the Power of Sharing Stories
Michelle Lopez, Ballast & Barricades solo exhibition, 2019-20. Photo by Constance Mensh, courtesy of the artist. 
Must-See Cultural Events in Philadelphia for Your 2025 Calendar
Pew Fellows Carmen Maria Machado and Vitche-Boul Ra. Photos by Neal Santos.
Fellow to Fellow: Carmen Maria Machado and Vitche-Boul Ra on Blending Genres and the Hidden Work of Being an Artist
Interview Cross-Disciplinary Practices
EgoPo Classic Theater, rehearsal for Ramayana with Papermoon Puppet Theatre and Kalanari Theatre Movement, 2023, Java, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of EgoPo. 

Projects in Process: Wilma Theater and EgoPo on Creative Collaborations
Essay Co-Authorship & Collaboration
Nels Cline in performance at Royce Hall, Los Angeles. Photo by Phinn Sriployrung.

Guitarist Nels Cline on Musical Lineage
Video Tradition & Translation
Walking with Trane, Urban Bush Women. Photo by Gennia Cui.
Questions of Practice: Choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar on Art and Social Justice
Video Social & Community-Based Practices
Pew Fellows Candice Iloh and Armando Veve. Photos by Neal Santos.

Fellow to Fellow: Candice Iloh and Armando Veve Find Inspiration in Each Other’s Mediums
Interview Cross-Disciplinary Practices
Enrique Bostelmann, Portrait of Cora Flores, 1980, part of Mirages series.

Projects in Process: Discoveries in the Archives with Berman Museum and Japan America Society
Essay Legacy & Archives