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Futures Without Guns

University City Science Center
Mikael Owunna, Infinite Essence: Uche, 2019. Image courtesy of the artist. Owunna is a collaborating artist on University City Science Center’s Futures Without Guns.
Mikael Owunna, Infinite Essence: Uche, 2019. Image courtesy of the artist. Owunna is a collaborating artist on University City Science Center’s Futures Without Guns.
Pew Fellow Tim Portlock, sculpture garden, 2020; archival pigment print, 58″ x 43.25″. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Pew Fellow Tim Portlock, sculpture garden, 2020; archival pigment print, 58″ x 43.25″. Photo courtesy of the artist.

In a yearlong residency, eight artists create new artworks and design propositions envisioning the possibilities for a future free from gun violence. With a focus on Philadelphia, the project invites community members affected by gun violence to share their experiences and, in several instances, inform the artists’ processes. The resulting group exhibition draws on futures thinking and speculative design methods to consider multiple perspectives on and potential solutions to this complex issue and to amplify the role of art in advancing societal change. To expand understanding of the subject matter, representatives from community organizations lead public events discussing gun violence and gun control in Philadelphia and their effects on communities.

Visit the project website.

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

Recipient
University City Science Center

University City Science Center

Founded in 1963, the University City Science Center promotes greater inclusivity in Philadelphia STEM careers through training programs, convenings, and capital allocation and supports researchers and entrepreneurs collaborating to advance science and technology. The Science Center operates uCity Square, a 17-building, 27-acre campus in University City. It operates under the guidance of 31 regional shareholders comprising area universities and colleges, hospitals, and other non-profits.

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