Located on the urban estate of George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak, the museum campus includes the mansion and gardens where Eastman lived from 1905 to 1932. George Eastman Museum is one of the world's premier institutions for the preservation and interpretation of photography, cinema, related technologies, and the life and career of George Eastman. The museum offers ten photography exhibitions a year and four exhibitions of moving image works. A recognized leader in the advancement of film preservation and photographic conservation, the museum pursues an artistic/cultural vision to collect and preserve objects of significance to photography, cinema, and Eastman’s legacy; build research resources; care for photographs, films, related technology, and archival materials to tell the history of photography; and maintain Eastman’s estate for public enjoyment.

The Implementation Grant will support the installation of an integrated LED lighting system in the George Eastman Museum’s Main Photography Galleries, Potter Peristyle, and adjacent exhibition spaces. The project will result in a 5 percent decrease in energy consumption, 5 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, and an approximate decrease in annual energy costs of about $15,000. The project will also benefit the preservation of sensitive objects while they are on display, enhance the visitor experience, and save staff time during the daily process of lighting exhibitions. This project expands upon, and complements, earlier efforts to increase energy efficiency and sustainability in two smaller photography galleries. It also supports the continuation of our museum’s ongoing sustainability efforts since 2014.