Masks and vaccinations are recommended. Plan your visit
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 experience, Cinema Arts sees 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 create a space for deep observation and provide an opportunity for visitors to explore compelling people, places, and ideas that extend through the museum and beyond.
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.
Thursday, April 6, 2023 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Spring is in swing and new life is popping up everywhere. Tonight, be inspired by flora in our ¡Plantásticas! exhibition and enjoy a life-giving cabaret of art and science with the Gold Beams Social Club.
Saturday, April 8, 2023 • 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Screenings | 2:00 p.m. Plant Printmaking Workshop
Enter a whimsical world of flowers brought to life through the cinematic lens. In between screenings, get hands on with plants by creating a plant print using screen-printing techniques.
Thursday, April 20, 2023 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day as we honor our landscape’s original care keepers and explore the complex bonds that Indigenous communities have with the land that gave birth to them.
Thursday, May 29, 2014 • 8:00 p.m.
These new and newly preserved experimental shorts craft visual illusions and allusions that flicker in your mind’s eye long after appearing on screen.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 • 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy archivist favorites, unexpected gems, and rarely seen treats curated by staff from the Bay Area Video Coalition’s preservation program.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014 • 7:00 p.m.
Enjoy archivist favorites, unexpected gems, and rarely seen treats curated by staff from the Bay Area Video Coalition’s preservation program.
Saturday, May 24, 2014 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.
The mystery and allure of outer space have fueled centuries of creative exploration. From works incorporating NASA data to help visualize our place in the universe to artistic imaginings of the unknown, this program showcases inspiring examples of starry-eyed cinema.
Saturday, May 10, 2014 • 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.
In remembrance of Lucia Eames (1930–2014), friend of the Exploratorium, daughter of Charles Eames, and stepdaughter of Ray Eames, we celebrate the innovative films of her family, whose legacy she was committed to expanding and sharing.
Friday, May 5, 2014 • 6:30 p.m
At this year's SF International Film Festival (April 25–May 9), the Exploratorium co-presents the documentary Coast of Death.
Friday, May 3, 2014 • 9:15 p.m
At this year's SF International Film Festival (April 25–May 9), the Exploratorium co-presents the documentary Coast of Death.
Friday, May 2, 2014 • 7 p.m
At this year's SF International Film Festival (April 25–May 9), the Exploratorium co-presents the documentary Coast of Death.
Saturday, April 26, 2014 • 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Don’t miss the fourth annual Stop & Go show, a traveling series of stop-motion animations curated by Sarah Klein and David Kwan. This year, “Made from Scratch” serves up a variety of delicious impressions on crafting, horticulture, and food.
April 25–May 9, 2014
At this year's SF International Film Festival (April 25–May 9), the Exploratorium co-presents the documentary Coast of Death.
Saturday, April 19, 2014 • 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Go behind the scenes to learn the fascinating history and techniques of the legendary Joshua Light Show in this unique, all-day workshop. Includes an introduction by founder Joshua White, demonstrations by their creative team, and opportunities for hands-on experimentation.
Thursday, April 17, 2014 • 7:00 p.m.
The legendary Joshua Light Show combines analog methods such as liquid light gels, overhead projection, and mirrors with new video technology to create an immersive and improvisational environment of light accompanied by the musical group Moon Duo.