Welcome to the Smithsonian's Arts + Industries Building

A home for the future-curious

We welcome all dreamers, makers, and changers of tomorrow to imagine a more exciting, equitable, and sustainable future.

Late 2021—Summer 2022
National Mall, Washington DC
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Get ready to visit

New + Next

Opening 2021

Prepare to be transported to FUTURES–an immersive museum experience like no other. On view for a limited time, explore the ideas, trends, art, and tech shaping our collective tomorrows in the largest future-focused exhibition ever staged on the National Mall.

Leap into the FUTURES

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Watch Futures We Dream Documentary Film Series

What do we dream of? Award-winning filmmakers answer this question by showcasing stories of hope and resilience from everyday people making a difference across the country. This new series of commissioned documentary shorts is brought to life thanks to Co-Chairs LL COOL J and Kevin Bright along with nationally acclaimed nonprofit The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture.

Five Contemporary Artists Create Their Own Imagined Futures

Five leading contemporary artists will create custom pieces for their Smithsonian debut in FUTURES. Beatriz Cortez, Nettrice Gaskins, Soo Sunny Park, Devan Shimoyama, and Tamiko Thiel and/p work in such diverse media as augmented reality, A.I., found objects, and industrial materials. You won’t want to miss these stunning portals into possible worlds on the horizon.

Speak Your Future Vision into an AI Interactive Sculpture

What if an artwork could respond to your voice? me + you from globally renowned artist and architect Suchi Reddy will invite visitors to speak their future vision as an AI algorithm translates meaning, tone, and sentiment into a unique mandala of color and light. Human wisdom and intelligent technology will be woven together to create a constantly evolving visualization of collective futures in the sculpture’s central totem. This groundbreaking public artwork marks Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) first-ever major contemporary art commission.

– Carl Sagan