Filming Rights

Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, a non-profit organization. Mount Vernon's policy is to extend every consideration to individuals and companies wishing to film, record, or photograph Mount Vernon, its furnishings, grounds, or outbuildings, consistent with the Association's mission of preserving and accurately interpreting Mount Vernon. The Association reserves the right to deny filming or photography at Mount Vernon. For this purpose, the Association has established the following guidelines:

Contact

All contacts with the Association referenced in this Guideline will be with:

Manager of Media Relations
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
P.O. Box 110
Mount Vernon, VA, 22121
Telephone: 703-799-5203
Fax: 703-799-8609
email: mwood@mountvernon.org

Advance Notice

Filming, videotaping, recording or photographing at Mount Vernon is permitted only with advance approval from the Association. The Association requires at least two weeks to process media requests.

Written Request

To request approval, the individual or company should contact the Association for a filming/photography contract or submit the following written information to the Association:

• A detailed description of the project including where it will be aired/published.
• The sponsor and/or producer of the project.
• The treatment concept and/or script for the project.
• The date of the desired on-site visit to Mount Vernon.
• A description of the extent of the proposed photography, taping or filming, including anticipated equipment.
• The names of individuals not affiliated with the Association who will be interviewed at Mount Vernon.
• Company's certificate of insurance.

Commercial Use

As a general policy, the Association does not permit its name or any images of Mount Vernon, its grounds or collections to be used for commercial purposes or to promote a product or service.

Credit and Acknowledgment

The Association respectfully suggests the following acknowledgment for books, videos and movies:
_____________________ acknowledges the assistance of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, which owns and operates Mount Vernon.

For photographs, please provide identification using the following words: "George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, Museum & Gardens."

Staff Interviews

The Association can provide professional spokespeople from its staff (President, Vice Presidents, Curator, Librarian, Horticulturist, Archaeologist, Educators, etc.), and Historic Interpreters (tour guides, costumed historical characters, livestock handlers) for interview purposes. Association staff cannot be photographed or recorded except with permission from the Association and the individual. Contact the Manager of Media Relations to schedule interviews with any staff members. Releases from staff members must be obtained by the organization conducting the filming, videotaping, photography or recording.

Location Fee

The Association reserves the right to require reimbursement of expenses for staff-time involved in the supervision of the film crew while on location (payable day of site visit to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Image Requests

The Association owns a large collection of historic prints and engravings depicting events that occurred during Washington's life. This collection is available for photographic use, with prior approval and appropriate scheduling with the Association.

Visitor-Related Restrictions

It is the Association's policy that any filming or recording not disturb the visiting public's experience while at Mount Vernon. For this reason, the following restrictions apply:

• Photography, filming or recording can only occur inside the Mansion when it is not open to the public.
• Mount Vernon is open every day of the year on the following schedule:
  • November through February: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
  • March, September and October: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • April through August: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Photography, filming or recording can occur elsewhere during hours of public visitation as long as it does not require clearing the grounds of visitors or closing outbuildings for more than a short period of time. This also needs to be approved in advance by the Manager of Media Relations.

Conservation Restrictions

Original Washington family objects, period pieces, and other objects in the collection are fragile and, in some cases, irreplaceable historical artifacts which are the responsibility of Mount Vernon’s collections department. In order to preserve these artifacts for future generations, the following restrictions apply:

• Food, drink, and smoking are NOT permitted.
• Requests to film or photograph inside the Mansion in locations other than those regularly traveled by visitors (i.e., areas with carpeted runners) must be pre-approved by the collections department.
• Photographers and film crews will be monitored by a staff member from Mount Vernon’s media relations and/or collections departments at all times. Based on the number of people filming or photographing at a given time, and their proposed locations within the buildings, additional supervision may be required at the discretion of the collections department.
• Objects can only be touched or moved by a qualified member of the Association’s collections department. Objects must never be used for sitting or holding equipment. Requests to rearrange or move furnishings and other objects must be made in advance, and evaluations will be made on a case-by-case basis.
• All equipment, such as tripods or tracks, must use rubber tips or pads to prevent damage to floors. Equipment must be set up a reasonable distance from objects, walls, doors, and other interior architectural elements. The collections department reserves the right to relocate or remove any objects which it deems to be in too close a proximity to lights and other equipment.
• Because strong lights emit heat that can be damaging to objects, those required for photography should be turned off when not in use. Ultraviolet light generated by some lighting devices can cause fading or darkening of textiles, works of art on paper, and other organic materials, and therefore, must not be aimed directly at these types of objects.
• Objects on loan to Mount Vernon from other institutions or from private lenders may not be available for filming or photography.
• Objects on display in the Museum must be filmed as installed, inside their exhibition cases. Due to environmental considerations, cases cannot be opened.
• Objects on display in the Administration Buildings may also be filmed or photographed and are generally subject to the same policies for objects on display in the Mansion and Outbuildings.
• Locations for filming objects in storage and the Library collections will be determined by the collections department, depending on the availability of appropriate space. Due to access restrictions on storage areas, requests of this nature must be made in advance.
• Under special circumstances, a work in the Library collection may be unframed for photography or filming. However, a fee may be charged for reframing the object following photography.
• Requests to film in the collections department’s conservation laboratory will be granted as long as objects undergoing treatment would not be placed at risk by the filming or photography.

Electrical Power

Electrical power is available in the Mansion and at certain sites on the grounds. Please inquire about available amperage and location of electrical circuits, if needed. If not prearranged, lights cannot be used in the Mansion because of a fire detection system.

Equipment

Photographers and technicians are to take full responsibility for all of their equipment.

Copies

Mount Vernon requests two copies of the completed project for its archives.

Legal Restrictions

The organization or individual conducting the filming, recording or photography must agree, in writing, to hold the Association harmless against any claims or expenses that result from their work at Mount Vernon. In addition, they must agree to assume financial responsibility for any damage to Association property caused by them or their agents. Prior to the visit, the organization must submit a certificate of insurance.

The organization or individual must agree, in writing, not to use the film, videotape, still photography or recording made at Mount Vernon for any purpose except that described at the time approval is sought. If other use is later contemplated, it will be permitted only with written approval from the Association.

The Association will provide a standard agreement that outlines these legal restrictions. This signed agreement must be returned before approval for any project can be given. The Association requires at least two weeks prior to desired project date to process this paperwork.

All filming is subject to approval by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.