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Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opens to the public in LA

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academy museum of motion pictures

The long-delayed Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has officially opened to the public in Los Angeles.

The long-delayed Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has officially opened to the public in Los Angeles after nearly a decade of planning and construction.

The Academy Museum was dedicated and declared open to the public on September 30 by officials including president and director Bill Kramer and board chair Ted Sarandos.

“Los Angeles is the movie capital of the world, and we are thrilled to be unveiling the Academy Museum in the heart of the city,” Kramer said.

“Our museum celebrates the art and artists of moviemaking, and we are honored to be greeted by these signals of recognition from other landmarks across LA. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Garcetti for leading this initiative.”

Academy Museum in LA opens to world

“The Academy Museum is an incredible addition to our cultural landscape,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “By honoring the films that have sparked our imaginations and even changed our lives, it will inspire people for generations to come.”

The Academy Museum is the largest museum in the US devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the campus contains the restored Saban Building.

The campus also features a soaring spherical addition. Together, the buildings boast 50,000 square feet of exhibition spaces, two state-of-the-art theatres, an education studio, restaurant, and retail outlet.

“When I moved to Los Angeles, I thought that I would find a museum that would honor the art of film and the role that movies play in our lives,” Sarandos said. “But that place didn’t exist.”

50,000 square feet of exhibition spaces

academy museum opening

“Somehow there was no film center, here in the global center of film,” he added. “Now we have the Academy Museum, which is opening to the public for the first time today but already feels as if it’s been here forever.”

“That shows you, in itself, how much this museum has been needed,” Sarandos said.

The Academy Museum’s opening exhibition on Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, will explore the themes in his films, including environmentalism, culture and spirituality.

Earlier this year, the museum revealed its inaugural programming, which includes film screenings, conversations and lectures, and programmes.

The Academy Museum is using Ticketure by TixTrack, a leading supplier of ticketing solutions, as the solution for timed entry ticketing, memberships and admissions.

Images: Academy Museum

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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