Here are just a few ways the public can explore the museum virtually from home until it opens its doors once again.
The National Science and Media Museum announced last week that it will be temporarily closed until further notice as the nation comes together to deal with the threat of coronavirus. However, while the doors will be closed for a while, the collection, and the inspirational stories it contains, remain open to the public online through learning resources, blog posts, videos, social media and more.
Social Media
Keep up to date with the latest news about the museum, its collection, projects, staff, stories and ways you can get involved on our social media channels at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. People can also sign up to the museum mailing list to be the first to hear about new content, what’s going on behind the scenes, and our future plans for when the museum reopens.
Blog
The museum blog is a treasure trove of information about its collection, exhibitions and ongoing projects. For those looking for a starting point in their journey through our collection, it is recommended virtual visitors start with a short history of British television; a short history of videogames; a brief history of the internet; and the A-Z of photography series.
For a wider look at the collection, the Science Museum Group blog post about exploring our museums at home is also recommended.
The Science Museum Group blog provides news and stories from across the Group, including a regular blog series on the science behind coronavirus.
Collection Online
The National Science and Media Museum is part of the Science Museum Group of museums. The Group’s collection, including objects relating to film, photography, sound and television housed in Bradford, are also available to explore online for free via the Collection Online website.
More than 325,000 historic objects, photographs and archive materials can be discovered through the online collection, from typewriters and trains to magic lantern slides, orreries, surgical tools and even retro videogame cassettes.
Many of these items have only recently been published online as part of an ambitious five-year project to give the public unprecedented access to the collection.
Learning Resources
The Science Museum Group has a range of online learning resources to help parents or interested adults teach and learn from home, including activity sheets and fun videos. Or it is possible to learn through play using the Group’s online games and apps.
Cinema
While the museum’s independent cinema operation Pictureville is also closed to the public, there are other ways to keep up to date with the latest cinema and home-streaming news.
Film fans can sign up to our cinema newsletter for the latest movie news. Also keep an eye on the museum’s Widescreen Weekend accounts on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates from the cinema team including their film recommendations.
Film lovers can also explore free archive films on BFI Player, usually available in the museum’s BFI Mediatheque.
Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Director of the National Science and Media Museum, said:
“Along with many cultural institutions we are working to bring even more of our offer and resources online at this time so everyone can continue to explore our collections and learning resources from home. Our recent blog post highlighted just some of the ways people can engage with the museum virtually, and we will continue sharing innovative ways to keep in touch until our doors reopen, as well as supporting other organisations and partners during this period by sharing their projects.”
To uncover all of the ways to explore the National Science and Media Museum virtually, read our blog post about how to explore the National Science and Media Museum at home.
To find out how to explore the wider Science Museum Group virtually, read the blog post about how to explore our museums at home.
ENDS
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
Katie Canning, National Science and Media Museum katie.canning@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk 07584 532289.
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. The museum explores the science and culture of image and sound technologies, creating special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults. It is home to three cinemas, including Europe’s first IMAX cinema screen and the world’s only public Cinerama screen outside the USA. Entry to the museum is free.
About the Science Museum Group
The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading group of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon.
We share the stories of innovations and people that shaped our world and are transforming the future, constantly reinterpreting our astonishingly diverse collection of 7.3 million items spanning science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. Standout objects include the record-breaking locomotive Flying Scotsman, Richard Arkwright’s textile machinery, Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE computer and the earliest surviving recording of British television.
Our mission is to inspire futures—igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, our museums attract more than 600,000 visits by education groups, while our touring exhibition programme brings our creativity and scholarship to audiences across the globe. More information can be found at the Science Museum Group website.
