Slought Foundation programs are possible
through major support from:

Argosy Fund for Contemporary Music
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies
in the Fine Arts
Helena Rubenstein Foundation
New York Council for the Humanities,
a state affiliate of the National Endowment
for the Humanities
Philadelphia Cultural Fund
Philadelphia Music Project, an initiative of the
Pew Charitable Trusts
Roy and Niuta Titus Foundation
University City District
University of Pennsylvania, School of
Arts and Sciences

Media Partners:

Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
CONTRASTe

Slought Foundation ('Sl-aw-t') is a not-for-profit organization in Philadelphia that broadly encourages new futures for contemporary life through public programs featuring international artists, architects, and theorists. Our programs are purposely critical and provocative in an intimate and participatory environment, and we invite our audiences to consider criticality itself as a source of dynamism and enjoyment. The name of our organization is derived from etymologies of the word 'slough,' and gestures towards ecological metaphors of networks and rejuvenation.

Since opening in Philadelphia in 2002 adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania, Slought Foundation has featured international figures such as Dennis Oppenheim, Werner Herzog, Helene Cixous, Hermann Nitsch, William Anastasi, Arakawa + Gins, Braco Dimitrijevic, and Lorand Hegyi. The Foundation is situated at the forefront of cultural production in North America and has presented hundreds of exhibitions, events and performances, trade publications, and a significant internet presence featuring extensive audio recordings. Our primary activities in Philadelphia are frequently complemented by international projects in cities such as Berlin, Buenos Aires, and Paris. All of these programs demonstrate our commitment to contemporary cultural life, and the importance we place on cultivating cross-cultural collaborations that enrich and expand our understanding of contemporary practice.

At Slought Foundation, our planning process and programming emphasizes collaboration, visitor interaction, and critical feedback as generative principles. Our projects implicitly respond to questions and concerns such as: how can organizations on the periphery of major international art cities and institutions contribute to the cultural and intellectual landscape? What should small organizations aspire to in relation to the prevailing economic and educational focus of major cultural institutions and funding platforms? Many of the individuals we present emphasize research as a fundamental component of their work, and they challenge us to reconsider the politics of exhibition display and prevailing curatorial approaches by evading clear distinctions between artist, critic, and curator.

Rather than conceiving of our public as homogeneous, we undertake each Slought Foundation project with the intent of engaging and establishing relationships with new and emerging publics. We seek to present a provocative curatorial agenda that responds to the particular challenges confronting Philadelphia, and we envision our activities as a bridge between different socio-economic and cultural communities.

Our main activities take the form of:

Interdisciplinary publications about contemporary life, critical theory, and curatorial practice;
Exhibitions exploring contemporary practice as well as legacies of the historic avant-gardes;
Seminars and symposia featuring theorists and cultural critics in dynamic conversation;
Performance practices with leading composers, poets, and media artists;
A comprehensive repository of recordings from past programs available online.

Slought Foundation operates with minimal funding and depends on the generosity of individuals like you to realize our programs and meet our overhead costs. Contact us for more information on how you can help sustain Slought Foundation, and please consider making an online donation today. Please share information about our programs and publications with your friends and colleagues, and look for coverage of Slought Foundation in local, national, and international media including Artforum, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Art in America, and Le Monde Diplomatique. Whether this is your first visit to our website, or you have attended past programs, please also consider bringing a friend to an upcoming event and introducing yourself to us.

Download our Media Kit [PDF]