Visit Kew Bridge Steam Museum for A Truly Glorious Steampunk Exhibition

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Steampunk Art Competition Running Throughout Summer

The largest exhibition of Steampunk art, craft and engineering in the world opened at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum this Spring. The exhibition contains over one hundred Steampunk exhibits from all over the world, ranging from paintings and artworks through costumes and fabrics to machines and engines, together with sound installations and short films. Many of the exhibits have been specially created for the exhibition and have never been seen before.

Steampunk is an artistic movement based on the principles, science and aesthetics of Victorian engineering, particularly the use of steam as a power source. Originating in a particular category of future fiction in the 1980s , it has expanded into a major movement with many thousands of adherents across the world. Its distinctive artistic style has found its way into mainstream art and fashion, particularly films and graphic books, while its imaginative and idiosyncratic engineering appeals both to enthusiasts for the past and designers of the future.

During the course of the exhibition, which will run for three months until Monday 29th August, new exhibits will be introduced, and a competition will be run for the best exhibit in various classes. There will be a Steampunk concert, fashion show, and science event. Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to enjoy all the other attractions of the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, including the giant Victorian pumping engines which will be operating most weekends. These will all be complemented by a range of Steampunk books and other products which will be available in the Museum shop during the exhibition.

The exhibition, which is organised jointly by the Kew Bridge Engines Trust and the Victorian Steampunk Society, follows last year’s very successful show at the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford but is on a much larger scale. After the show closes at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum some of the exhibits will be going on show elsewhere in the UK, but Kew Bridge is the only place where the whole show can be seen together.

Art Competition

Kew Bridge Steam Museum is running an art competition throughout the summer holidays in support of The Greatest Steampunk Exhibition. 

The museum will be holding museum-facilitated competition sessions on Thursdays throughout the summer holidays,between 1pm and 4pm, when families will not only have a chance to make a contribution to the exhibition while it is at the museum but also to the travelling exhibition at its future venues.  Families can also take part in self-led participation on other days throughout the summer holidays, with facilitated sessions on 30th & 31st July and 27th & 28th August. Final judging will take place on 29th August 2011 the final day of the exhibition.

The museum will be providing the materials all we ask is that families provide the imagination!  To find out more please contact the museum on 020 8568 4757 and come join in the fun. . 

How to find us: Kew Bridge Steam Museum is situated in Green Dragon Lane, about 200 yards from the north side of Kew Bridge and under the tall Victorian Tower. The nearest motorway is the M4 (Junction 2 signposted to Kew Gardens and North/South Circular roads, then pick up signs for Kew, Brentford and Hounslow). The museum car park has space for 40 cars or 4 coaches. 
N.B. we are outside the Congestion Charge Zone!

Public Transport: Buses: 65, 237, 267, 391.
Main Line Train: Kew Bridge (South West Trains from Waterloo) Gunnersbury (North London Line) then 237 or 267 bus.
London Underground: Gunnersbury (District Line) then 237 or 267 bus. South Ealing (Piccadilly Line) then 65 bus.

Admission: Adults £9.50. Concessions £8.50. Children (5 – 15) £3.50.

All tickets are valid for a period of 12 months and allow multiple visits at no extra cost. Proof of age may be required for children.

July 27, 2011