The Cinema Arts Program

Established in 1983, Cinema Arts at the Exploratorium has defied expectations by focusing on artist-made and independent cinema at the crossroads of art and science.
Throughout 2023, the Exploratorium will present a special series of curated screenings, public events, and immersive filmmaking experiences celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Cinema Arts. The series will acknowledge Cinema Arts’ history, pay tribute to the accomplished filmmakers who over the decades helped ferment the program’s innovative direction, and showcase and amplify the voices and visions of a new generation of curators and emerging interdisciplinary/media artists.
Approaching movies as an active viewing experience, staff in the Cinema Arts Program view the projection screen as a portal to investigation. We engage with filmmakers who create works that inspire the imagination and instigate conversation. Animation, documentary, poetic observations, and abstract visuals serve a broad spectrum of curious audiences while blending the methods and aesthetics of artists and scientists. Through our programming, we aim to provide an opportunity for visitors to explore the compelling people, places, and ideas that extend through the museum and beyond. Our collection of films and events offer a rich resource for public audiences, and also provide an important research collection for both our teaching programs and exhibit development teams.
Help us celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Exploratorium’s groundbreaking Cinema Arts program.
Our collection of films and events offer a rich resource for public audiences, and also provide an important research collection for both our teaching programs and exhibit development teams.
For questions about the Exploratorium Cinema Arts Program, please contact us at:
cinemaarts@ exploratorium.edu
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Screenings at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. This documentary about soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause is at once an ode and an elegy—a celebration of sonic splendor and a solemn plea for change.

Screenings at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. This documentary about soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause is at once an ode and an elegy—a celebration of sonic splendor and a solemn plea for change

Screenings at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. This documentary about soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause is at once an ode and an elegy—a celebration of sonic splendor and a solemn plea for change

What does a queer future look like? Tonight at the Exploratorium, celebrate LGBTQ+ voices in the arts, STEM fields, and political activism for an inclusive future, and then dance the night away.

Screenings at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. This documentary about soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause is at once an ode and an elegy—a celebration of sonic splendor and a solemn plea for change

Immerse yourself in an emotional, dream-like meditation on climate catastrophe with multimedia artist Miwa Matreyek, then learn about creative ideas for change from the worlds of art and science.

An all-ages festival featuring hands-on activities, performances, and artworks that invite us to observe, listen to, and act in community with the environment.

Immerse yourself in an emotional, dream-like meditation on climate catastrophe. Miwa Matreyek shape-shifts to express the impact humans have on the environment from various perspectives.

Craft your own shadowscapes using tools and techniques Miwa Matreyek uses to bring abstract scenes to life on the screen using light and shadow.

Screenings at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. This documentary about soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause is at once an ode and an elegy—a celebration of sonic splendor and a solemn plea for change

Screenings at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. This documentary about soundscape ecologist Bernie Krause is at once an ode and an elegy—a celebration of sonic splendor and a solemn plea for change

Convene with insects, flora, sea life, and more; reflect on your relationship with other species; and learn about the rich lives of other species.