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Join us this July when the Museum’s front yard is transformed into the city’s biggest cinema during the Art Hill Film Series, a St. Louis tradition of films, food, and music!

The 2023 Art Hill Film Series is a free, non-ticketed event held on three summer Fridays: July 14, July 21, and July 28. The party starts at 6 pm with music, food trucks, and the SLAM events bar. The feature film will begin at 9 pm.

In the event of severe weather, the Museum will announce any delay or cancellation on Facebook, Instagram and slam.org. If a film is canceled due to weather, it will not be rescheduled.

  • July 14 – Top Gun: Maverick (Canceled)

    After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. Training a detachment of graduates for a special assignment, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who choose to fly it.

    Music
    DJ Brian Lewin and Pretty Dope Mike

    Food truck line-up
    Beast BBQ
    Cinnacrush
    Duchess Royal
    Petes Pops
    Picture Perfect Panini
    Soul Burgers
    Scoops & More
    This N That
    The Moobile

    July 21 – Akeelah and the Bee

    Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl (Keke Palmer) living in South Los Angeles, discovers she has a talent for spelling, which she hopes will take her to the National Spelling Bee. Despite her mother’s (Angela Bassett) objections, Akeelah doesn’t give up on her goal. She finds help in the form of a mysterious teacher (Laurence Fishburne), and along with overwhelming support from her community, Akeelah might just have what it takes to make her dream come true.

    Music
    DJ Jillian

    Food truck line-up (subject to change)
    Angie Burger
    Beast BBQ
    Buzz
    Cajun Seduction
    Cinnacrush
    Fire & Ice
    G Burrito
    Jive Turkey
    Petes Pops
    Scoops
    Treaux BBQ
    Tuk Tuk Thai

    July 28 – School of Rock

    Overly enthusiastic guitarist Dewey Finn (Jack Black) gets thrown out of his bar band and finds himself in desperate need of work. Posing as a substitute music teacher at an elite private elementary school, he exposes his students to the hard rock gods he idolizes and emulates — much to the consternation of the uptight principal (Joan Cusack). As he gets his privileged and precocious charges in touch with their inner rock ‘n’ roll animals, he imagines redemption at a local Battle of the Bands.

    Music
    Dj Micro

    Food truck line-up (subject to change)
    Beast BBQ
    Buzz
    Cajun Seduction
    Cha Cha Chow
    Cinnacrush
    Fire & Ice
    Go Gyro Go
    Treaux BBQ

  • This year’s theme—Teacher Feature—both celebrates the 100th anniversary of education programs at the Museum and is a nod to the upcoming summer exhibition Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1940s-1970s. Inspired by the revolutionary approach of faculty at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) on artists in the exhibition, celebrate the creativity and commitment of teachers and mentors in popular movies.

  • What to bring
    • Lawn chairs or blankets. A ‘blankets-only’ section will be available at the front of the viewing area. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • Picnic items. Food and alcoholic beverages are permitted and available for purchase under the tent on Art Hill Plaza and at the Food Truck Fest presented by Sauce Magazine, in the West Lot.
    • Well-behaved pets on a leash are welcome (leashes must be no longer than 6 feet in length). Please be respectful of other guests by cleaning up after your pets.
    • Cash or credit/debit card. There is no ATM on-site, and not all vendors have tap-to-pay or other cashless options.
    • Reusable water bottles. Free drinking water is available from the City of St. Louis water wagon at the top of Art Hill along Fine Arts Drive.
    Parking & Transportation
    • Free public parking is available on Fine Arts Drive, the East Lot, and anywhere parking is permitted in Forest Park.
    • Paid parking is available in the Museum’s Parking Garage. Parking is paid on entry and is $15 ($5 for SLAM Members). Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted.
    • Take the MetroLink to the Skinker Station (15-minute walk) or the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station (25-minute walk).
    • Ride your bike (bike racks are available).
    • Carpooling and ride-sharing are encouraged. We recommend the driveway in front of the East Building for ride-share drop-off/pick-up.
    Things to note
    • Smoking is prohibited including e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and all other electronic smoking devices.
    • Security, first aid, and lost-and-found are located at the top of Art Hill
    • Trash and recycling containers are located throughout the event. Learn more about recycling here.
    • All films at the Art Hill Film Series have open captioning.
    • A section of Art Hill will be designated for visitors in wheelchairs. Visit the Information Booth on Art Hill Plaza for more information.
    • Accessible parking spots are located in the free parking lots on Fine Arts Drive and in the Museum’s parking garage. Accessible Museum entrances are located at the East Building and in the parking garage. Accessible parking will also be available on the West Lot with the Food Trucks.
    • Individuals who may need sign language interpreters, written materials in alternative formats, or other accommodations should make a request to access@slam.org or 314.655.5268 at least seven days before the event.
    • Learn more about accessibility at the Museum here.
Event partner