HFPA Grantee

Located in Queens, New York, the Museum of the Moving Image is an institution dedicated to advancing the “understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television and digital media by presenting exhibitions, education programs, significant moving-image works, and interpretive programs, and collecting and preserving moving-image related artifacts.” The museum was founded in 1988 and has since gone through immense growth, with a $67 million expansion in 2008 and attendance hitting 120,000 in 2011. However, this growth has only highlighted how the institution uses its funds for good.

Aside from its core exhibition, known as Behind the Screen, which features over 1,400 artifacts ranging from early optical to toys to modern-day virtual reality, the museum holds plenty of events aimed at those interested in pursuing the visual media arts. Over 400 screenings are hosted annually by the institution through various film series. These screenings vary from contemporary works to classic film prints, offering a one-of-a-kind film education on the big screen.

Public discussions known as the Pinewood Dialogues are also hosted by the museum. Here, professionals in the film, television and digital media industry are brought to the stage to discuss or workshop different aspects of the industry. These discussions have included names such as Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Thomas Anderson, among others.

The museum is also known for its education programs, allowing students from all over New York and the globe to get a guided tour, attend screenings and participate in hands-on workshops. About 50,000 students are hosted annually- and it doesn’t stop there. Professional development seminars and workshops are offered for teachers, as well as after-school programs created to further academic and technical skills.

In terms of preservation, the museum boasts the largest collection related to the art, history, and technology of the moving image, with over 130,000 artifacts on reserve. These items date back as far as the 19^th century all the way to 21st-century technology used in film, television and digital media production today. Grants like those of the Hollywood Foreign Press go towards the continued preservation, education, and innovation of all things related to the moving image, including programs like the Ann and Andrew Tish Education Center, which helps students from public schools all over New York learn and experience the digital arts, regardless of financial background.

To learn more about the Museum of the Moving Image, visit: http://www.movingimage.us/