Special Focus

Academy Museum Grand Opening in September, Virtual Programming Commences April

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles has announced a slate of programs it will offer to the public beginning September 30, 2021 when it will celebrate its grand opening. Leading up to the opening, the museum has planned a series of virtual programs kicking off in April 2021 around the Oscars. Panel discussions with film industry leaders, gallery tours, screenings, workshops and educational offerings for families and students will illuminate the world of movies to people of all ages, backgrounds and interests. The reach of the programs will be extended worldwide through the Academy museum’s website and Museum Foundation social media channels.

In terms of pre-opening programs, around website. Conceived as a digital prologue the time of the 93rd Academy Awards to be to the museum’s core exhibition, Stories presented April 25, the Academy Museum of Cinema, these programs will share will launch a series of virtual conversations, the varied voices of extraordinary film screenings and education programs on the artists, tell the stories of their inspirations and collaborations, and explore the art, technology, history and social impact of the movies. When the Academy Museum opens in September, it will begin presenting a robust range of screenings, in-depth conversations, and programs for youth and families. Film screenings will celebrate cinema’s rich past, present and future, presented in the museum’s two theaters – the 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater and the 288-seat Ted Mann Theater – with stateof-the-art sound and projection in multiple film and digital formats. The theaters will be spaces to explore and experience the arts of cinema as well as inspire conversation and action long after the credits roll.

The Academy Museum is the largest institution in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences and artists of moviemaking. The museum advances the understanding, celebration and preservation of cinema through inclusive and accessible exhibitions, screenings, programs, initiatives and collections. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, the museum’s campus contains the restored and revitalized historic Saban Building – formerly known as the May Company building (1939) – and a soaring spherical addition. Together, these buildings contain 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibition spaces, two state-of-the-art theaters, an education studio, restaurant, retail store and beautiful public spaces. The Academy Museum has actively been acquiring three-dimensional motion- picture objects since 2008. Its holdings now number approximately 5,000 items representing motion picture technology, costume design, production design, makeup and hairstyling, and promotional materials. The collections include more than 12.5 million photographs; 237,000 film and video assets; 85,000 screenplays; 65,000 posters; and 133,000 pieces of production art. Add this amazing venue to your list of must-see attractions to visit when you next head to Los Angeles!

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Exterior. Photo by Josh White,JWPictures/©

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