A leading museum operated by the Science Museum Group in Bradford, UK, is celebrating the opening of a landmark permanent exhibition space.
Marking the culmination of a £6.8 million transformation, the National Science and Media Museum’s Sound and Vision galleries, spanning two floors, showcase world-class collections of photography, film, television, animation, video game and sound technologies. Following the museum’s 18-month closure and partial reopening in January 2025, the Sound and Vision galleries welcomed their first visitors this weekend (July 10, 2025).
Thanks to a gift from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the new galleries feature over 500 exhibits, a new art commission and a range of multimedia content. Designed by award-winning AOC Architecture, the galleries explore globally significant stories of technological innovation and social change.
Exploring media
In the first section, Innovation, visitors encounter some of the earliest examples of photographic, film and sound technologies. This includes Europe’s first IMAX projector, installed in the museum in 1983, providing a gateway into the evolution of visual technologies. From William Henry Fox Talbot’s earliest photographic negatives to Louis Le Prince’s single-lens cine camera (a world-first which captured moving film footage in nearby Leeds), visitors can explore the origins of media technologies. Other highlights include the camera used by Herbert Ponting to document Scott’s Antarctic Expedition in 1910 and John Logie Baird’s groundbreaking ‘television apparatus’ from 1926.
The Identities section explores how media technologies help humans express themselves. Alongside the development of photography from early portrait studios to the first popular cameras and the ongoing development of digital imagery, this gallery also tells the story of homemade gadgets and communities that bring people together through tech. In ‘Gig Zone’, visitors can explore media technologies utilised in live music, showcasing a mixing desk used by The Prodigy and the iconic Marshall amplifier stack.
Sound and vision technologies enable the creation of rich, imagined worlds, explored in the Storytelling section of the galleries takes visitors on a journey through visual effects workshops, the sound worlds of Doctor Who via the Radiophonic Workshop, and the meticulous, technical work of some of the world’s leading animation studios. Iconic horror film props are brought to life in an evocative display featuring Dracula’s fangs as worn by Christopher Lee and a model of the eponymous Alien head and torso from the 1979 film.
The Everywhere section looks at how media technologies have changed society. At the heart of the gallery is a newly commissioned artwork supported by Art Fund, ‘Circus’ by Nayan Kulkarni where visitors move around a room of ‘digital mirrors’ – momentarily becoming part of the museum’s displays, highlighting our role in modern media technologies as both subject and creator.
Science through sound
Partners such as Allstar and BCB Radio have brought vital local perspectives to the galleries, reflecting the creativity and diversity of Bradford’s cultural scene whilst creating narratives that are relatable to people both from the district and those visiting. Individual contributors include Paul Seal, a disabled gamer who developed a gaming setup that enabled him to continue to play through adapted technology. Seal shared personal insights with curators, bringing depth and authenticity to the galleries, highlighting how innovation in media technology can empower individuals.
A collaboration with the Marshall Factory, a renowned name in sound technology, has added further industry insight and national perspective to the galleries. Together, these contributions have helped make the galleries more inclusive and representative of both local communities and wider society.
“A momentous year”
National Science and Media Museum director Jo Quinton-Tulloch says: “We are thrilled to be launching our new permanent Sound and Vision galleries this summer. They have been a true labour of love and collaboration, and they showcase our incredible collections in new and innovative ways.
“Our collections and the rich narratives they tell touch upon all our lives, from the first photographic negative and film footage to the advent of radio and television, and the power of sound technologies to bring us together. Our Sound and Vision galleries showcase how everyday objects have the power to be extraordinary.
“We have worked closely with a huge range of people to develop the galleries, ensuring these spaces work for everyone and that our visitors feel represented in the stories we tell. Consultation with our local communities has been central in the development of Sound and Vision, and it feels especially significant to launch the galleries during Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture.
“We hope the galleries will be a key focal point in our city’s momentous year and for a long time to come. And we are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the support of National Lottery players for making Sound and Vision possible. We cannot wait to welcome visitors to explore our new galleries.”
Earlier this week, across the Atlantic, Comcast NBCUniversal and The Franklin Institute announced a new interactive museum experience going behind the scenes of Universal theme parks.
