What they reported doing
- #1 primary $5.65MCOLLECTIONS, PRESERVATION AND EXHIBITIONS: THE MUSEUM IS THE STEWARD OF THE WORLD'S LEADING COLLECTIONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY, MOVING IMAGES, CONTEMPORARY MOVING IMAGE ARTWORKS AND TECHNOLOGY. THE PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION, AMONG THE OLDEST AND BEST IN THE WORLD COMPRISES MORE THAN 400,000 OBJECTS DATING FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MEDIUM IN 1839 THROUGH TO THE PRESENT DAY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IT ENCOMPASSES WORKS MADE IN ALL MAJOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES-FROM DAGUERREOTYPE TO DIGITAL - FOR A WIDE RANGE OF PURPOSES, FROM DOCUMENTARY RECORD TO ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.THE MOVING IMAGE COLLECTION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST (28,000 FILMS) AND MOST IMPORTANT IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH A FOCUS N THE HISTORY AND PRESERVATION OF CINEMA. ITS HOLDING INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF RARE AND HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT FILMS, AS WILL AS ARCHIVAL EPHEMERAL RELATED TO MOTION PICTURES, SUCH AS FILM STILLS, CELEBRITY PORTRAITS, DOCUMENTS, AND PRODUCTION MATERIALS. THE MUSEUM PRESENTS A PROGRAM OF TWO-MONTH EXHIBITIONS OF (MOSTLY CONTEMPORARY) MOVING IMAGE ARTWORKS IN A DEDICATION SPACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE TECHNOLOGY COLLECTION HOLDS THE WORLD'S LEADING COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CINEMATROGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY. CONSISTING OF OVER 19,000 OBJECTS, THE COLLECTION OFFERS AN UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND MOVING IMAGES. CAMERA EQUIPMENT FOR VIRTUALLY EVERY FORM OF LENS-BASED PHOTOGRAPHY FROM ITS INVENTION TO TODAY, INCLUDING THE CAMERAL MODEL FOR THE LUNAR ORBITER. THE MUSEUM'S PRINCIPAL FACILITIES ARE LOCATED ON THE TEN-ACRE PROPERTY FORMERLY OWNED BY GEORGE EASTMAN (1854-1932). EASTMAN'S 35,000 SQUARE-FOOT MANSION WAS RESTORED AND REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1990 AS A HISTORIC HOME, WHICH INCLUDES HIS FURNISHINGS, DECORATIVE ART, RELATED ARTIFACTS FROM HIS HOME. IT INCLUDES THREE HISTORIC GARDENS AND THE GEORGE EASTMAN STUDY CENTER, WITH SUBSTANTIAL HOLDINGS OF THE CORRESPONDENCE, PHOTOGRAPHS, FILMS AND PERSONAL ITEMS RELATED TO GEORGE EASTMAN. THE RICHARD AND RONAY MENSCHEL LIBRARY IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED COLLECTIONS OF BOOKS, PERIODICALS AND OTHER MATERIAL ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND MOVING IMAGES. IT'S HOLDING OF 50,000 OBJECTS, INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE, INTERNATIONAL, UP-TO-DATE MATERIALS ON THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY; LITERATURE ABOUT MOTION PICTURES, TELEVISION AND VIDEO WHICH COVERS THE SILENT PERIOD TO THE DIGITAL AGE; AND AN EXTENSIVE AND IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF RARE BOOKS ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND MOVING IMAGES. THE MUSEUM HAS AN ACTIVE BOOK PROGRAM FOCUSED ON CATALOGS RELATED TO OUR EXHIBITIONS. IT HAS PRODUCED MORE THAN 75 PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING 13 SCHOLARLY AND BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED BOOKS ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMA, THREE OF WHICH HAVE RECEIVED AWARDS. DURING 2024 THERE WERE EIGHT PROJECTS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PRODUCTION. THE MUSEUM'S ACTIVE PROGRAM OF TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS OR PHOTOGRAPHY AND IMAGE WORKS ARE PRESENTED YEAR-ROUND IN FIVE GALLERIES, INCLUDING THE RECENTLY OPENED GALLERY OBSCURA. THIS GALLERY HAS A UNIQUE ROLE - FEATURING EXHIBITIONS CREATED OR PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS. THE PROJECTS FOCUS ON GREATER ROCHESTER AND EXHIBITIONS FROM THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTIONS THAT ARE THEMATICALLY RELATED TO COMMUNITY EVENTS. IN 2024 THE MUSEUM ACQUIRED 1179 OBJECTS, DISPLAYED 14 EXHIBITIONS, AND LENT COLLECTION OBJECTS TO MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD. IN OCTOBER 2024, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUSEUM'S SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, LIFE WITH PHOTOGRAPHS - 75 YEAR OF THE EASTMAN MUSEUM OPENED. IN THIS EXHIBITION, WE PAY HOMAGE TO THE LONG HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM, WHILE ALSO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONGOING CONVERSATIONS, CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS, AND NEW UNDERSTANDINGS OF HOW PHOTOGRAPHY HAS INUNDATED AND SHAPED LIVES. THE EXHIBITION COMPRISED SEVEN SECTIONS, EACH FOCUSING ON STRENGTHS OF THE COLLECTIONS AND OUTLINING APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING THE AMORPHOUS MEDIUM KNOWN AS PHOTOGRAPHY.
What they call their work
What they do
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 2 activities
- Leadership in photography and film fieldsProvides leadership in the study, preservation, and presentation of photography and cinema, recognized as the world's oldest photography museum and one of the oldest film archives, established in 1947.
- Preservation and curation of photography and film collectionsPreserves, develops, and acquires world-class collections in photography and cinema, including ongoing conservation efforts for photographic materials and nitrate film. The museum has acquired thousands of objects over recent years and maintains climate-controlled storage and specialized labs for preservation.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Educational and public programmingOffers public tours of George Eastman’s mansion and gardens, educational programs, talks, video tutorials, and hands-on activities. Provides online access to digitized content and virtual experiences through the 'Explore GEM at Home' initiative.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Exhibition of photography and cinemaHosts multiple temporary exhibitions annually on photography and cinema in its Main Galleries, Project Gallery, Community Gallery, and other spaces, with at least three exhibitions on view at any time. Exhibitions include major thematic shows such as 'Joshua Rashad McFadden: I Believe I'll Run On' and 'Kertész, Capa, and the Hungarian American Photographic Legacy'.
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Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
- Expansion to Los AngelesLaunched Eastman Museum Los Angeles in 2024 to extend its mission of arts, culture, and education into the Los Angeles region.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Film screening and festival programmingOperates a year-round film screening program in the 500-seat Dryden Theatre, exhibiting over 300 films annually, including special series and curated retrospectives. Hosts the annual Nitrate Picture Show, a festival dedicated to nitrate film preservation and exhibition.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Museum facility rentals and event hostingHosts weddings, ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, corporate presentations, and meetings at George Eastman’s historic mansion, garden, Potter Peristyle, and Dryden Theatre, with capacity for up to 120 guests. Offers venue rental for eligible organizations and members.
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Home-Delivered Meals for Seniors and Homebound 1 activity
- Onsite dining servicesOperates a counter-service eatery offering specialty sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods, and house-made beverages, with flexitarian and gluten-free options. Provides full menu service until 3 p.m. daily and grab-and-go options from 3–5 p.m., with options for dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup, and catering.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
- Publishing programProduces exhibition catalogs and publications related to photography, cinema, and museum collections through an active book publishing program.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRUCE BARNES PHD | DIRECTOR | 60 | $232K |
| LISA SEISCHAB | VP-DEVELOPMENT | 38 | $160K |
| PETER BAGROV PHD | CURATOR IN-CHARGE | 38 | $140K |
| JACQUELINE DISTEFANO | VP-FINANCE AND OPS | 38 | $135K |
- ANN L BURR — TRUSTEE
- BONNIE GARNER — TRUSTEE
- DAVID MATTIA — TRUSTEE
- DAVID STENN — TRUSTEE
- DEBBY WILSON — TRUSTEE
- DENNIS BASSETT — TRUSTEE
- EDWIN J LOPEZ-SOTO ESQ — TRUSTEE
- FABRICIO MORALES — TRUSTEE
- HC DIGBY CLEMENTS — TRUSTEE
- JEFFREY A KORCHEK ESQ — VICE CHAIR
- JEFFREY J POLLOCK — TRUSTEE
- JEFFRY A ROLOSON — TRUSTEE
- JOHN A ULATOWSKI MD PHD — TRUSTEE
- KENNETH AFREDERICK PHD — SECRETARY
- KEVIN GLAZER — VICE CHAIR
- LEAH PAINTER ROBERTS — TRUSTEE
- LEE SCHAFFNER — TRUSTEE
- LISA BRUBAKER — TRUSTEE
- MARGARET A SANCHEZ — TRUSTEE
- MONE' C BARKLEY — TRUSTEE
- NANNETTE NOCON — CHAIR
Who they work with
- American Alliance of Museums Network — Accredited member institution
- Association of Art Museum Directors Network — Member organization
- George Eastman Society Network — Members of the George Eastman Society are eligible to rent museum facilities for events.
- International Federation of Film Archives Network — Member archive
- Joshua Rashad McFadden Partner — Collaborated on the exhibition "I Believe I'll Run On" examining race, masculinity, sexuality, and gender through photography.
- Major Supporters Funder — Provides financial support to the George Eastman Museum.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Public funder supporting the museum with state funds
- Open Face Partner — Operates as a food service provider within the George Eastman Museum, offering dining options to visitors and the public.
- University of Rochester Partner — Donated George Eastman's mansion and surrounding property to the museum in 1948.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Comprehensive Stewardship of Photographic and Cinematic Heritagemethodology: comprehensive_stewardshipBy collecting, preserving, studying, and exhibiting photographic and cinematic materials from the origins of the media to the present, the museum ensures long-term access to and public understanding of these cultural forms, because sustained engagement with original artifacts and technologies deepens historical and artistic insight.
- Public Engagement as a Catalyst for Film Conservationmethodology: public_engagement_in_conservationBy integrating public exhibitions and festivals—especially those featuring rare nitrate film screenings—into its conservation work, the museum advances technical preservation practices and raises public awareness, because specialized public programming creates both demand and expertise that sustain rare film preservation.