After being delayed due to construction issues, the UK National Science and Media Museum reopens in Bradford in the New Year with exciting exhibitions
David Hockney creating a joiner of the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford 19 or 20 July 1985(Image credit: National Science and Media Museum and Science & Society Picture Library )
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, UK is scheduled to reopen in January 2025 following a major £6 million transformation and development of its Sound and Vision project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The highly anticipated reopening will coincide with Bradford’s UK City of Culture celebrations, making it a key British cultural destination for 2025. After being pushed back due to construction issues, the museum will welcome visitors to its newly redesigned venues from January 8, with an exciting public program, interactive exhibitions, upgraded facilities designed to enhance the visitor experience, and returning favorite, the Kodak photography gallery.
Joiner of the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, July 18, 19 and 20 1985 by David Hockney. (Image credit: Science Museum Group )
One of the highlights for photography and art enthusiasts is the David Hockney: Pieced Together exhibition, opening on January 15, 2025. This exhibition shines a spotlight on Hockney’s photographic collages, known as 'Joiners', offering a unique perspective on his work that many are unaware of.
While Hockney is best known for his flamboyant paintings, his exploration of photography is equally significant. The Joiners combine multiple photographs into a single, fragmented image, providing viewers with a fresh way of experiencing time, space, and memory. This exhibition is a rare opportunity to see how Hockney utilized the medium, creating multi-perspective works that challenge traditional notions of photography.
A significant piece in David Hockney: Pieced Together will be a photographic collage of the National Science and Media Museum itself, captured in 1985 when it was still known as the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television. This Joiner offers a glimpse into the museum’s early history, blending Hockney’s innovative photographic technique with the institution's legacy.
David Hockney photographing the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, 18 July 1985 (Image credit: National Science and Media Museum and Science & Society Picture Library )
Alongside the Hockney exhibition, the museum's Sound and Vision Galleries, set to open in the summer of 2025, will explore and celebrate the relationship between photography, film, and other visual media. The new galleries will offer an immersive experience of the museum's world-class collections, showcasing how photography and technology have evolved.
The revitalized National Science and Media Museum promises to be a vibrant hub for arts and culture in Bradford. For photographers and art lovers alike, the opening of the David Hockney exhibition and the upcoming Sound and Vision Galleries are not to be missed – an exciting glimpse into the past, present, and future of visual media.
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An artists rendering of the new Sound and Vision project gallery space (Image credit: The National Science and Media Museum)
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Kalum is a professional photographer with over a decade of experience, also working as a photo editor and photography writer. Specializing in photography and art books, Kalum has a keen interest in the stories behind the images and often interviews contemporary photographers to gain insights into their practices. With a deep passion for both contemporary and classic photography, Kalum brings this love of the medium to all aspects of his work.
