The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University was awarded a $350,000 grant from the Pew Center of Arts & Heritage for a community-based storytelling project. “Reclaiming our Past, Constructing Our Future: A Collaborative Exploration of the Pennhurst Archive” will interpret the history and ongoing impact of the institutionalization of people with disabilities.
People with intellectual disabilities will work with artists, historians, and archivists to investigate the archives of the now-closed Pennhurst State School and Hospital, which once housed more than 4,000 residents. The research will inform the creation of an interactive, multimedia installation that will connect historical records to lived experiences of institutionalization. You can read the full article here.
