Hidden Lives Illuminated

 Hidden Lives Illuminated will bring the often invisible stories of people living in prisons to light against the backdrop of Eastern State Penitentiary's dramatic stone walls. The series will feature nightly screenings of newly-commissioned, animated short films created by currently-incarcerated artists living in Pennsylvania correctional institutions.

Films will be screened onto a 20-by-30-foot area of Eastern State’s façade each night from August 15 through September 12, 2019 using a concert grade digital projector. A total of 21 original short films will be shown throughout the month, each created for this project by artists currently incarcerated in Pennsylvania prisons and jails. The films will offer an intimate look inside America’s correctional system, conceived, narrated and animated by incarcerated people. Screenings will be free and open to the public, and content will be appropriate for people of all ages. During the screenings, additional programs will feature presentations by scholars, community leaders, activists, artists, victims’ advocates, and elected officials. Hands-on activities will provide families a chance to reflect on the films and discuss social and criminal justice issues.