Join us under the stars for a look at the life of activist, musician, and cultural icon Kathleen Hanna, who formed the punk band Bikini Kill and pioneered the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s, followed by a conversation with Hanna moderated by Skirball Chief Curator Cate Thurston.
Date and Time
Friday, June 12, 8:00 pm
- Exhibitions/doors open at 6:00 pm
- Film screening at 8:00 pm
- Conversation with Kathleen Hanna at 9:30 pm
Details and Pricing
- $20 General
- $15 Seniors, Full-Time Students, and Children 2–17
- FREE to Members and Children under 2
Includes Museum admission!
Taper Courtyard
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- Questions? Review our FAQs.
About the Film
Girls to the front! Join us in our Taper Courtyard for a special screening of the acclaimed 2013 documentary, The Punk Singer. This compelling documentary chronicles the life and influence of Kathleen Hanna—frontwoman of Bikini Kill and a central figure in the "riot grrrl" movement. Blending archival footage with candid interviews, the film traces Hanna’s rise as a fierce voice in punk music, her role in shaping feminist discourse in the 1990s, and her enduring impact on art and activism.
A conversation with Kathleen Hanna, moderated by Skirball Chief Curator Cate Thurston, immediately follows the screening.
In conjunction with our current museum exhibition, Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos: Punk Culture 1976–86, this outdoor screening invites audiences to consider how personal expression and political action intersect across mediums. Bring a blanket, settle in under the evening sky, and experience this intimate portrait in a shared, open-air setting.
Directed by Sini Anderson (2013, 81 min., Not Rated)
Arrive early to view the exhibitions! The Punk Singer is the perfect complement to the exhibition Outcasts, Outsiders, Rebels + Weirdos: Punk Culture 1976–86, which celebrates how a generation of misfits—including Jewish punks—challenged the rules, reimagined community, and helped reshape culture from the margins. And don't miss Inventing America: The Comic Book Revolution; Robert Russell and Lisa Edelstein: A Palace in Time; Common Ground; and Visions and Values while you're here.
"terrifically watchable and impressively empowering" —The Guardian
About Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna is a punk singer, writer, artist, and the frontwoman of the influential bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. Her memoir Rebel Girl was an instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. She is a leading voice in the feminist movement and has been named one of the best live performers of our time. Follow @mskathleenhanna on Instagram, @thekathleenhanna on TikTok, and subscribe to Future Windows on Substack.

