About
Founded in 1947, the George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the largest film archives in the United States, located on the historic Rochester estate of entrepreneur and philanthropist George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography. Its holdings comprise more than 450,000 photographs; 28,000 motion picture films; the world’s preeminent collection of photographic and cinematographic technology; one of the leading libraries of books related to photography and cinema; and extensive holdings of documents and other objects related to George Eastman. As a research and teaching institution, the Eastman Museum has an active publishing program and makes critical contributions in the fields of film preservation and photographic conservation.
Current Press Releases
Restoration of the George Eastman Museum’s historic Colonnade will begin this week
Rochester, N.Y., August 6, 2019—This week, the George Eastman Museum will begin a major restoration of the Colonnade of George Eastman’s mansion, a National Historic Landmark.
The Colonnade is the passageway—lined with windows onto the Schuyler C. Townson Terrace Garden—between the Palm House and the dining room in George Eastman’s historic mansion. This structure provides the only interior route between the museum’s main entrance and galleries and the historic mansion and Terrace Garden.
Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes crew will spend their summer at the George Eastman Museum
Rochester, N.Y., June 24, 2019—This summer, the George Eastman Museum will offer visitors a look at the complex process of animation with The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons. The exhibition will be open to the public on June 28 and remain on view through October 6. An exhibition preview will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, followed by a screening of Warner Bros. animated shorts at 8 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre.
ESL Acquires Naming Rights to Pavilion in New Visitor Center at George Eastman Museum
Rochester, N.Y., June 12, 2019— ESL Federal Credit Union has acquired the naming rights to the new main entrance building—the ESL Federal Credit Union Pavilion—at the George Eastman Museum’s new visitor center. The new entrance will be more convenient, visible, welcoming, and accessible for guests. The visitor center will also include a new café and museum shop. Construction is expected to begin in January 2020 and be completed in July 2020.
Tanya Marcuse: Woven now on view at the George Eastman Museum
Rochester, N.Y., June 7, 2019—The George Eastman Museum announces Tanya Marcuse: Woven is now on view through January 5, 2020. The artist, Tanya Marcuse, will be in Rochester tonight for a conversation with Lisa Hostetler, Curator in Charge of the Department of Photography, at 6 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre. Following the conversation, the exhibition gallery will be open to view, and Marcuse will be signing copies of her book, Fruitless / Fallen / Woven (Radius, 2019).
The George Eastman Museum to host a Community Forum on Monday, June 10 at 6 p.m.
Rochester, N.Y., June 4, 2019—The George Eastman Museum is hosting a community forum on Monday, June 10, at 6 p.m., to share information about its historic mansion and garden restoration program. The museum invites the public to attend and learn more about the status of the project and its next phase as well as ask questions and provide input for the projects moving forward.
George Eastman Museum honors Julia Roberts with the George Eastman Award before SOLD-OUT crowd tonight
Rochester, N.Y., May 2, 2019—The George Eastman Museum honored Julia Roberts with the George Eastman Award earlier this evening in front of a sold-out crowd. The Eastman Award is the museum’s highest honor in motion pictures and recognizes Robert’s distinguished contribution to the art of film. The award ceremony was held in the Dryden Theatre, where 500 people were in attendance to view a video compilation of her work, followed by her gracious acceptance speech and an on-stage conversation with Roberts and the museum’s Curator of Film Programming, Jared Case.
“Eastman Entertains: At The Movies” Tabletop Displays return to the George Eastman Museum May 7–26
Rochester, N.Y., April 15, 2019—The George Eastman Museum has announced that its popular Eastman Entertains: At the Movies, will be on view from Tuesday, May 7, through Sunday, May 26. For three weeks only, a spectacular array of creatively styled table settings and floral arrangements inspired by popular motion pictures—including Clue, Hocus Pocus, Mamma Mia, and The Sting—will be displayed throughout the mansion of entrepreneur and philanthropist George Eastman.
The George Eastman Museum presents its Garden Vibes Concert Series in June
Rochester, N.Y., May 16, 2019—The Garden Vibes summer concert series will return to the George Eastman Museum this summer with a condensed schedule in June. A major construction project will begin on the museum’s historic Colonnade in July, limiting access to the Terrace Garden and East Vista. The museum will host the outdoor concerts on June 12 and June 19, prior to commencement of construction.
George Eastman Museum reveals film titles screening this weekend at the 5th Nitrate Picture Show
Rochester, N.Y., May 3, 2019—The George Eastman Museum has released the official program for this weekend’s 5th Nitrate Picture Show, the world’s first festival of film conservation. Following a day of workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, and talks in the Dryden, the 5th Nitrate Picture Show will begin its official film program at 4:30 p.m.
The Dryden Theatre will present Salam, a free film series, in partnership with the Islamic Center of Rochester
Rochester, N.Y., April 9, 2019—In commemoration of the lives of the victims of the atrocities at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in New Zealand, and in solidarity with Muslim people, the Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum will present three films by renowned filmmakers Youssef Chahine (Egypt), Jafar Panahi (Iran), and Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Turkey). The film series, Salam (“peace” in Arabic) was organized by the Eastman Museum in partnership with the Islamic Center of Rochester, and is sponsored by the William & Sheila Konar Foundation.
The George Eastman Museum to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing this summer
Rochester, N.Y., March 28, 2019—This year makes the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. The George Eastman Museum will open a new rotation in its History of Photography Gallery on May 3, which will celebrate the anniversary as well as examine the intersecting histories of photography and space exploration.
Julia Roberts to introduce film at the Dryden Theatre the evening before she accepts the George Eastman Award
Rochester, N.Y., March 12, 2019—The George Eastman Museum has announced that Academy Award winner Julia Roberts will introduce a special screening of Full Frontal (Steven Soderbergh, 2002) at the Dryden Theatre on Wednesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. Roberts will be in Rochester to accept the George Eastman Award on Thursday, May 2 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Dryden Theatre, and has agreed to introduce the film on May 1.
Julia Roberts to receive George Eastman Award
Rochester, N.Y., February 12, 2019—The George Eastman Museum will honor Julia Roberts with the George Eastman Award on Thursday, May 2. The award recognizes her distinguished contribution to the art of cinema. Tickets will go on sale to the public on March 18 and will be available at eastman.org/eastmanaward2019.
The George Eastman Museum offering FREE admission to federal employees and their families
Rochester, N.Y., January 16, 2019—The George Eastman Museum is offering free general admission beginning today and until the end of the government shutdown to all federal employees impacted by the shutdown and their families, including tickets to evening film screenings at the Dryden Theatre.
George Eastman Museum
Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Closed Monday)
Dryden Theatre
Tuesday- Saturday: Films begin at 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted); Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
Press Contact
Eliza Kozlowski
Senior Director of Marketing and Engagement
George Eastman Museum
(585) 327-4860
[email protected]