![]() National Science and Media Museum with statue of J. B. Priestley | |
![]() | |
Former name | National Media Museum National Museum of Photography, Film and Television |
---|---|
Established | 16 June 1983 |
Location | Bradford, West Yorkshire, England |
Coordinates | 53°47′26″N 1°45′20″W / 53.790556°N 1.755556°W |
Collections | National Photography Collection, National Cinematography Collection, National Television Collection, National New Media Collection |
Collection size | 3.5 million items |
Visitors | 439,916 (2019)[1] |
Director | Jo Quinton-Tulloch |
Curator | Charlotte Connelly |
Website | scienceandmediamuseum nationalmediamuseum.org.uk (archived) nmpft.org.uk (archived) |
Science Museum Group | |
The National Science and Media Museum (formerly The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, 1983–2006[2][3] and then the National Media Museum, 2006–2017[4][5]), located in Bradford, West Yorkshire, is part of the national Science Museum Group in the UK. The museum has seven floors of galleries with permanent exhibitions focusing on photography, television, animation, videogaming, the Internet and the scientific principles behind light and colour. It also hosts temporary exhibitions and maintains a collection of 3.5 million pieces in its research facility.
The venue has three cinemas, including Europe's first opened IMAX screen, finished in April 1983.[6] It hosts festivals dedicated to widescreen film, video games and science. It has hosted popular film festivals, including the Bradford International Film Festival, until 2014.
In September 2011 the museum was voted the best indoor attraction in Yorkshire by the public, and it is one of the most visited museums in the north of England.[7][8] As of February 2016[update] the museum, in response to revenue shortfalls, has controversially adopted a policy of focusing on "the science and culture of light and sound"—to the exclusion of what are seen as "unsustainable" aspects of creativity and culture, such as past film festivals.[9]
In March 2016 a £7.5 million five year investment plan in the museum was revealed by the Science Museum Group.[10] In March 2017 its name was changed from National Media Museum to National Science and Media Museum.[11]
As of July 2023, the museum is closed until 2025 as part of a project to construct two new galleries.[12]