Art & Style

(PHOTOS) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos Join Civic and Cultural Leaders at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Published on October 4, 2021

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures officially opened its doors in grand fashion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by civic and cultural leaders just moments before the museum’s first visitors were allowed to enter the $484 million, 300,000-square-foot facility.

The Academy Museum is the largest museum in the country devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. It occupies a campus at the intersection of Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave. in Los Angeles, which features two buildings to be used for exhibition spaces, educational and special event spaces, and two movie theaters, which will be used for screenings, film series’, member programs, panel discussions, and other events.

The civic dedication follows two other high-profile events held at the museum prior to its official opening, including a star-studded opening night gala, and a premiere party hosted by Vanity Fair.

The civic dedication was attended by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Director and President of the Academy Museum Bill Kramer, AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson, AMPAS President David Rubin, Gamechanger CEO Effie Brown, California Film Commission Executive Director Colleen Bell, and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, who all gave remarks before the people in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“As the creative capital of the world, we’re so proud in Los Angeles of our legacy of moviemaking,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti in his remarks. “The Academy Museum is an incredible addition to our cultural landscape. By honoring the films that have sparked our imaginations and even changed our lives, it will inspire people for generations to come.”

“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,” Bill 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.”

Kramer also thanked Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry and other for their contributions which led to the lobby of the museum being named after Academy Award Winning actor Sidney Poitier.

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.

The Academy Museum will hold a collection of more than 13 million artifacts from film history dating back to 1927, including Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, the typewriter that Alfred Hitchcock used to write the script for Psycho, one of Bela Lugosi’s capes from 1931’s Dracula, and more.

After the doors opened, guests were able to view many amazing exhibits, including an exhibit dedicated to director Spike Lee and his films.

Currently, the Academy Museum is open at 50% capacity, with masks required for entrance to all indoor spaces. Advance admission tickets can now be purchased at academymuseum.org.

See photos from the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures civic dedication below:

Director and President Academy Museum, Bill Kramer, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO, Dawn Hudson, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, President, David Rubin and Netflix Co-CEO and CCO, Ted Sarandos