LOS ANGELES: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will open to the public on December 14 this year, eight years after it was announced.
Hollywood actor Tom Hanks made the announcement during the Oscar ceremony in the Dolby Theatre. Hanks is the museum trustee and co-chair of the Academy Museum campaign with chair Bob Iger and co-chair Annette Bening.
“There is plenty of culture to be found in the City of Angels, but there has never been a museum dedicated to the art and science of motion pictures,” Hanks said, noting that there was even a selfie museum in Los Angeles.
Academy Museum Director Bill Kramer said in a statement, “We cannot wait to welcome the whole world to the Academy Museum. When our doors open on December 14, our thrilling combination of exhibitions, screenings, and public and educational programs will create unparalleled experiences for movie lovers everywhere.”
The movies come home 12.14.20 #AcademyMuseum pic.twitter.com/DnRG705ns4
— Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (@AcademyMuseum) February 10, 2020
The museum was first announced in 2012. Major construction has been completed on the museum’s iconic building, designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano and located on Los Angeles’s Miracle Mile.
The highlights include the 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater, decked out with plush red handmade Italian chairs, the glass Barbra Streisand Bridge, which connects the concrete 1939 building to a spherical glass dome structure, and sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills. One of the first exhibits will be an immersive look at the world of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli animated films.
The Academy Museum has experienced bumps on the road to its unveilin. The project, announced in 2012, was initially estimated at $250 million and was scheduled to open in 2017. After construction encountered several delays, the project is now coming in at $388 million.
Taking a moment to thank all our Charter Members who are supporting the #AcademyMuseum exhibitions, programs, education, and community outreach programs. We would have never gotten this far without you. @trademarkconcrete pic.twitter.com/LQkxopvtba
— Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (@AcademyMuseum) January 30, 2020
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