Culture means more than just preservation or presentation; it means the exchange of ideas, the creation of concepts. At Slought Foundation ('Sl-aw-t'), we work with communities in intimate and participatory ways, exploring new forms of practice and belonging. The name of our organization is derived from the word 'slough,' and gestures towards ecological metaphors of rejuvenation and reinvention. As a grass-roots nonprofit institution, we value agility and the experimental disposition. In our first seven years, we have presented hundreds of exhibitions and educational programs internationally and in Philadelphia, operating at the forefront of curatorial innovation in North America. Our recent selection by the U.S. Department of State to represent the United States at La Biennale di Venezia (2008) is an enormous honor for our small West Philadelphia organization, and recognizes a new spirit of community activism and inclusiveness across the country. In the absence of major public and private support for organizations that challenge conventional wisdom, the local site and cultural practice are becoming newly empowered.

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Slought Foundation public programs are frequently recorded and made available online for free. Since 2002 over 300 hours of material have been added to our archives, and over 100,000 recordings downloaded.

From Vito Accconci to Werner Herzog, the archives of the Slought Foundation feature today's pioneers in conversation about contemporary art, architecture, and social theory. Access these recordings using our new archival interface