Your Guide to the Museum

Located in the heart of Bradford, the Museum is a hub of activity with amazing hands-on galleries, two cinemas and an IMAX showing films throughout the day and late into the evening. World-class research facilities provide easy access to a world-class collection, with daily talks and tours . There are permanent galleries devoted to photography, television and animation, a shop, restaurant and a fantastic programme of exhibitions and award – winning events and festivals. So whether you’re a family looking for a day out, a keen film-lover or a dedicated researcher then the NMPFT is the place to be.

Access to the permanent galleries is free.

> Download a printer friendly map of the Museum in PDF format.
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Gallery One, Gallery Two – Floors 1 and 2

> Please visit our Exhibitions sections to find out more about our latest temporary exhibitions.

Pictureville, Cubby Broccoli and IMAX Cinemas – Ground Floor and Floor 1

If you love film, you’ll love the Museum. There are three cinemas within the NMPFT.

Together they allow the Museum to programme every film format including IMAX – and its ‘ancestor’ – Cinerama. In addition to a vibrant monthly film programme, we also organise three international film festivals and other special events.

> More information about the Cinemas and the film programme.

Kodak Gallery – Lower Ground

Research during the 1980s showed that the one possession many people would try to save if their house was on fire would be the family photo album. So used are we to capturing our memories on film, from parties to holidays and family weddings, that it’s hard to imagine a world without them.

The Kodak Gallery takes you on a dramatic journey through the history of popular photography, from the world’s first photographs to today’s digital snapshots. Its origins are in the 100,000 objects and 150,000 images collected by Kodak Ltd. The collection was donated to the NMPFT during the 1980s. Drawing on this and the Museum’s collection, the gallery explores how photography grew from being the preserve of the rich or the professional photographer to become a universal pastime.

Insight: Collections & Research Centre – Lower Ground

This purpose built facility opens up the treasures of the Museum’s Collection as never before. Individual and group study rooms, viewing areas, as well as workshops, tours and talks provide unprecedented access to millions of images and objects from this outstanding collection.

> Find out more about the Research Centre and the Museums Collection, along with Online Resources and Images.

Shopping, Eating and Drinking – Ground Floor

The Museum Shop offers everything from gifts and souvenirs to postcards and optical toys. Its bookshop has one of the finest selections of books and magazines covering film, photography and television.

The Museum Café can cater for all, whether you’re looking for c offee and c ake, or a delicious and filling meal. A great selection of fresh and tasty food is available from 10.00am – 6.00pm . If you wish to bring your own packed lunch, eating facilities are available in the White Room Picnic Area.

For those who want to relax with a drink before or after a film, the Pictureville bar is open 5 – 9pm serving a wide selection of snacks, bottled beers, largers, spirits, hot and cold soft drinks.

> Find out more in our Visitor Information section

Magic Factory – Floor 4

Science was never like this at school…

The Magic Factory is a hands-on opportunity to explore the science behind light, optics and image-making. Looking like a fairground designed by Heath Robinson, more than 30 interactive exhibits allow you to investigate periscopes, a camera obscura, to shake hands with yourself, see yourself as others see you, even try and catch a flash of light.

Behind the fun of the fairground mirrors and optical tricks, the Magic Factory has a serious story to tell. The entire gallery has been written to reflect Key Stages two and three of the Science National Curriculum. But you don’t need to know that to enjoy the factory. And there’s no age limit for entry.

The Magic Factory now has its own fantastic and fun web site at : www.magic-factory.co.uk

TV Heaven – Floor 5

A unique living television archive, TV Heaven is the opportunity to delve into some of the best British television programmes. Comprising more than 600 programmes, it features classic dramas like Elizabeth R, ground-breaking documentaries including The World at War or People’s Century, brilliant comedies and landmarks in the history of soap opera (like the final episode of Crossroads). Viewing booths are suitable for small groups, while there’s also a viewing theatre which can accommodate up to 40 people. This is bookable by groups but also features regular screenings from the archive.

> Search the TV Heaven archive at the TV Heaven website.

Animation & Animator in Residence – Floor 5

The Czech animator, Jan Svankmajer surely spoke for most of those who make animated films when he said that ‘animation enables me to give magical powers to things’.

This gallery explores the world of animation from cartoons to special effects, through its history, techniques and personalities, with a special focus on films made in Britain. Here you can see original sets and models, including Morph, Wallace, the Wombles and Ray Harryhausen’s Talos, as well as a range of original artwork from classic and contemporary animators. You’ll see the wide diversity of animated films (animation is not just cartoons!) in excerpts from over 120 films, dating from 1898 to today. You’ll also be able to try your hand at animation and see a real animator at work in the Channel 4 Animator in Residence studio. Along the way, you can find out how the process of drawn animation for optical toys led to the development of cinema.

> Find out more about Animation at www.nmpft.org.uk/film/animation

Advertising – Floor 5

Featuring some of the most memorable and controversial advertising campaigns of the last 20 years, this gallery explores how advertisers persuade us to buy products, again and again and again.

British advertising talent is regarded as being among the best in the world, with leading film directors, including Alan Parker and Ridley Scott, making amazing 30-second dramas plugging everything from beer to mashed potatoes. Go inside the how and whys of a campaign, exploring with the help of leading creatives how the original client brief is brought to life.

“Society drives people crazy with lust and calls it advertising” – John Lahr

Profiles – Floor 6

In this gallery you can explore the work of one of Britain’s most successful film producers, David Puttnam, and get close up to a range of major film awards, including the Palme d’Or, the Emmy, the BAFTA and the Academy Award for Chariots of Fire, that Puttnam gathered during his producing career.

IMAX Projection Box – Floor 6

A permanent feature is the IMAX viewing area, which allows you to look into the projection box and see the unique IMAX SR-3D projectors (the only ones in Europe) at work. You can also see our original IMAX projector – when it was fitted it was the first in Europe – and see how its unique mechanism works. This display explains how widescreen cinema has developed; and how IMAX works.

> Come and watch an IMAX film. Visit www.nmpft.org.uk/imax for film details and showing times.