M Shed

Wallace and Gromit from the Drawing Board

• 27 May — 7 September 2014

Visitors to Bristol’s M Shed and fans of Wallace & Gromit are in for an extra special treat this year as Wallace & Gromit will once again be a highlight in Bristol’s cultural calendar when a new exhibition opens this spring.

The exhibition will take visitors on a journey that explores the world which lies behind the Wallace & Gromit characters, their Bristol based creators, Aardman Animations and the award-winning films in which they star.

The new exhibition also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the first-ever Wallace & Gromit film release and highlights Bristol’s strong creative scene.

Exhibition highlights:

Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to see the famous duo up-close and view ‘story boards’ used to create some of the familiar and amusing film scenes. Exhibition highlights will include; production artefacts such as notebooks from the creators, film archive, models, animation sets and clips. Some of the drawings and objects have never been on display before.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be encouraged to think about how stories are created: the characters involved; the setting; the plot – and then be inspired to make and draw their own stories to share with family and friends.

The exhibition will feature a series of ‘rooms’ from Wallace & Gromit’s home, each exploring a different creative theme. There will be interactive activities encouraging children to discover and explore their own creativity. Visitors will also be able to watch their favourite scenes and explore photo albums and scrapbooks from the world of Wallace & Gromit.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/about-us/news/wallace-and-gromit-from-the-drawing-board/

Get Creative

• 29 May 2014 10am-12pm
• 5 June 2014 10am-12pm
• 12 June 2014 10am-12pm
• 19 June 2014 10am-12pm
• 26 June 2014 10am-12pm
• 3 July 2014 10am-12pm
• 10 July 2014 10am-12pm
• 17 July 2014 10am-12pm
• 24 July 2014 10am-12pm
• 31 July 2014 10am-12pm
• 7 August 2014 10am-12pm
• 14 August 2014 10am-12pm
• 21 August 2014 10am-12pm
• 28 August 2014 10am-12pm
• 4 September 2014 10am-12pm

Every Thursday there's an opportunity to get your creative juices flowing, inspired by everyday objects and the imaginary world of Wallace and Gromit. Artists will be on hand with just a few simple materials to help you create some amazing characters, stories and plots. Located in Wallace and Gromit's kitchen.

Suitable for

• Family friendly
• Especially for children

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/about-us/news/wallace-and-gromit-from-the-drawing-board/

Join a tour of M Shed's collection stores and encounter treasures from the city's industrial and maritime past. Tours take place every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11.30am and every Wednesday at 2.30pm. Tours last 45 Mins. Suitable for ages 12 and over. Sign up at the information desk on the day or in advance. Contact info@mshed.org or 0117 352 6600.

Admission

Boat rides

• 8 March — 18 May 2014 *on now

Enjoy a ride the Fire Boat Pyronaut, the tug John King and the Mayflower.

Pyronaut - Sat 8th - sun 9th Mar, sat 26th - sun 27th April, sat 17th - sun 18th May,
John King - Sat 30th - Sun 31st Mar, sat 10th - sun 11th May,
Mayflower - Sat 12th - Sun 13th April,

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/whats-on/events/

Be transported back to the days of steam, take a ride along the harbour on one of M Shed's biggest exhibits, Henbury Steam Locomotive.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/whats-on/events

Historical Walk: Exploring Redcliffe

• 25 April 2014 1:30-3:30pm

Venture on our guided walk into the once-autonomous township of Redcliffe, where you will find some of the most impressive remains of historical Bristol - from large-scale buildings, such as St. Mary Redcliffe church and Temple Meads railway station, to tucked-away gems, such as the Hermit's Cave and the remains of the city's Water Gate. Our guides will reveal how this fascinating and often overlooked area played a vital role in establishing Bristol's reputation as a world-class city. Follow the 'Event Web Site' link at the bottom of this listing for full event information.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/event.html?eventid=29758

Jack In The Green

• 3 May 2014 10:30am-5pm

Leaf-covered and nine feet tall, you won't miss Bristol's Jack in the Green! A celebration of summer, he and his disguised musicians and dancers weave through the city's streets annually on the first Saturday in May - starting their journey at M Shed.

Suitable for

• Any age

Website

http://mshed.org/whats-on/events/jack-in-the-green/

Historical Walk: Explore The Floating Harbour

• 6 May 2014 10:30am-12:30pm
• 13 May 2014 10:30am-12:30pm
• 3 June 2014 10:30am-12:30pm

Join expert guides as they take you on a trip into Bristol's old docklands, pointing out its maritime heritage and supplementing the tour with a wealth of fascinating photographs and maps.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/event.html?eventid=29750

Life Stories and the Photographic Image

• 15 May 2014 6-7:30pm

Speaker: Paul Tobia, UWE, Bristol

The working practice and public image of lunatic asylums has been the subject of much academic debate, yet often, the patients who were incarcerated within the asylum’s walls have either been overlooked or understood in generalised terms.

Making use of a unique and comprehensive archive of restored portrait photographs from the Bristol Record Office collections, this talk will consider the stories of some of those committed to the city’s nineteenth century asylum.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/whats-on/events/life-stories-and-the-photographic-image/

Historical Walk: M Shed To Victoria Park

• 21 May 2014 10:30am-12:30pm

Discover how Bedminster evolved from a rural Somerset parish to a bustling industrial town and the inevitable impact that this had on public health. Expert guides will highlight some of the key features of the Victorian expansion of south Bristol, illustrating the walk with a wealth of historical photographs, drawings and maps.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/event.html?eventid=29754

Cracking Stories

• 3 June 2014 6-7:30pm

A discussion about contemporary storytelling. Have you ever wondered how you create stories which keep both adults and children entertained? Do people who create stories for film think differently from those writing novels, or making plays? What is different about contemporary storytelling? These are some of the things that will be explored with our panel of speakers: Paul Kewley (Executive Producer, Aardman Features), children’s author Rachel Carter and Richard Headon, (Director, Desperate Men). Chaired by author and broadcaster Sarah LeFanu.

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/whats-on/events/cracking-stories-tue-3-june-2014/

Speaker: Andrew Flack, University of Bristol. This seminar will examine the mechanics of this process within the context of Bristol Zoological Gardens in the nineteenth century.

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/whats-on/events/uwe-animal-commodities-bristol-zoo,-the-wild-animal-trade/

Characters from clay with Aardman

• 12 August 2014 10am-3pm
• 26 August 2014 From 10am

Make your favorite character – Gromit, Shawn the Sheep or Morph - with the help of Aardman’s expert model maker; learn about animation techniques used in Aardman’s award winning films, and take away your model.

10am, 12pm and 2pm
1 hour workshop.
Suitable for age 4+.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://mshed.org/whats-on/events/characters-from-clay-with-aardman-tues-26-aug-2014/