Fresh Film Series- Frame to Frame:

Where Film Meets Art

About

The "Fresh Film Series" at Peoria Riverfront Museum featured film screenings accompanied by introductory discussions that explored connections between the films and artworks on view. Carlos Valladares served as the guest curator, thoughtfully pairing films with pieces from the FRESH exhibition. During a dedicated film festival weekend, Valladares engaged with the community, offering commentary on selected films and delivering a lecture on the parallel evolution of contemporary film and art. A printed booklet outlining the film lineup and its artistic connections was made available at the museum.

Intended Outcome

Peoria Riverfront Museum hoped to attract 600 visitors with this activity as well as to use music, film, and performance to help visitors engage with visual contemporary art and reach younger (ages 20-40) audiences.

Actual Outcome

Peoria reached 532 visitors with this activity, which was primarily comprised of college students, and 72% of respondents stated that the program helped provide a better understanding and appreciation of the pieces in the FRESH exhibition.

Advice Post Project

For museums that may want to connect film with art, partner with a guest curator who brings a strong voice and deep knowledge of both film and contemporary art. Their vision will shape the series and create meaningful connections between mediums. They may want to design the program to include interactive elements like live discussions or Q&A that invite the public to engage directly with the curator and the themes of the exhibition. Offering printed materials that explain the curatorial choices and highlight connections between films and art can help deepen the audience’s understanding.