At the National Science and Media Museum, in the heart of Bradford, we explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies and their impact on our lives.
We aim to inspire the scientists and engineers of the future to see more, hear more, think more and do more.
Our galleries and exhibition spaces help us illuminate world-famous collections in photography, film and television. Our team of Explainers create learning activities that fuel the imagination and get under the skin of our collections and exhibitions. And our three cinema screens—including an IMAX theatre—allow us to showcase the magic of moving images from around the world in Bradford, the first UNESCO City of Film.
Our history in pictures
1983: The museum opens as the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, with a remit to explore the art and science of the image
1983: The first IMAX in Britain opens at the museum. It becomes the country's biggest cinema screen
1985: Bradford-born artist David Hockney collaborates with the museum, creating a photographic montage based on the museum building
1986: To mark the 50th anniversary of the first public television service, two new TV-themed galleries are opened, including an interactive studio set
1989: On the 150th anniversary of the invention of photography, the Kodak Gallery opens, telling the story of popular photography from its early development to the present day
1989: The launch of the first ever live broadcasting studio in a museum
1992: The Library Theatre, originally situated next to the museum, is converted into a 306-seat cinema, becoming the beautiful Pictureville Cinema
1993: A Cinerama screen and projection system is installed at Pictureville. This makes it the only public cinema where this format can be screened in the UK
2002: A landmark exhibition celebrates 40 years of James Bond. The exhibition went on to tour to London, the United States and Canada
2003: The museum opens a functioning BBC tri-media studio, enabling visitors to watch journalists gather and produce material for local and national TV and radio
2006: Experience TV, a £3m gallery dedicated to the past, present and future of television, opens
2007: The museum relaunches as the National Media Museum, expanding its remit to encompass the web and digital technology
2009: Bradford becomes the world's first UNESCO City of Film
2010: A major revamp of the museum's foyer sees the introduction of the Games Lounge, as well as a new shop and box office
2011: Life Online, the world's first gallery dedicated to exploring the impact of the internet, opens on the ground floor
2015: The IMAX cinema undergoes a major refurbishment, allowing the introduction of digital projection and improved seating
2017: The museum relaunches as the National Science and Media Museum, and Wonderlab, a spectacular £1.8m interactive gallery devoted to the science of light and sound, opens
