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National Science and Media Museum announces programme for 2023

In the run-up to 2023, the National Science and Media Museum announces a jam-packed programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, activities and screenings.

Yorkshire Games Festival  

Passes on sale, 4–10 February 2023

The Yorkshire Games Festival returns next year with an in-person event to inspire future digital creators. The festival kicks off with Let’s Play! family weekend, followed by the Young Developers Conference and finishing with the Game Talks programme, featuring high-profile industry guests.  
 
Game Talks speakers include Mark Ranson, Lead Artist at Void Interactive; Founder and Host of She Plays Games, Lauren Kaye; Head of Studio at Silver Rain Games, Melissa Phillips; plus, many more.  

Stephen Hawking at Work  

Free, Opens 9 February 2023  
 
Explore incredible objects from Professor Stephen Hawking’s office and gain a rare glimpse into the working life of the world-renowned theoretical physicist. 
 
With this special display, visitors will have a unique opportunity to see a rare copy of Hawking’s PhD thesis, his wheelchair and Hawking’s most treasured office possession – a blackboard filled with academic doodles and jokes.

Space Half-Term Family Fun

Free, 11–19 February 2023 
 
Blast off this February half term with free workshops, live science experiments, hands-on activities, out-of-this-world films and IMAX documentaries, exploring all the wonders of space.

Bradford Science Festival

Free, 24 May–4 June 2023  
 
The most innovative and popular science festival around returns to the museum over May half term.  A highlight of the city’s cultural calendar, Bradford Science Festival has amazing experiences for everyone from immersive installations to family activities.  
 
Best new releases, arthouse cinema and family favourites at Pictureville Cinema 
Tickets required  
 
Escape the everyday at Pictureville, Yorkshire’s biggest independent cinema, with three screens showing the best new releases, arthouse cinema, family favourites and more.  Pictureville is also home to Europe's first IMAX theatre, one of the biggest in the UK, showing blockbusters and 3D films year-round.  

Open Talk Series: Technology: Liberator or Oppressor?

Free online event, 12 January 2023  
 
In this virtual event a part of the Open Talk series, a panel of expert journalists, economists and technologists come together to discuss the issue of how digital technologies, and their governance, need to change in order to support democracy, equality and social cohesion.

Open Talk Series: How migration helped British science to thrive

Free online event, 22 February  
 
In this special virtual event on the 75th anniversary of the NHS, a panel of experts examine and celebrate the impact of migration on the NHS, medicine and the advancement of scientific research in the UK.

Widescreen Weekend

Tickets required, Date to be announced  
 
Widescreen Weekend returns to celebrate the past, present and future of film. Enjoy a long weekend of big, bold and wide cinema experiences made possible by the museum’s fantastic projection facilities. Glorious 70mm screenings, new Cinerama restorations and great guests will remind you why going to the movies is so magical. 

To stay up to date on exhibitions, events, festivals, activities and cinema screenings, sign up to the National Science and Media Museum’s newsletter. 
 
Ends

Notes to Editors

For more information, or images, please contact Brittany Noppe, Senior Press Officer on Brittany.Noppe@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk or 01274 203356 

A media pack of hi-res images is available to download.

About the National Science and Media Museum

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. It draws on more than three million objects from its national collection to explore the science and culture of image and sound technologies, and their impact on our lives.  
 
The Museum creates special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults, and is home to three cinemas, including Europe’s first IMAX cinema screen and the world’s only remaining public Cinerama screen. Entry to the Museum is free.

Part of the Science Museum Group