Information and discussion on all aspects of British photographic history

FIRST REPORT: Media Space to open 21 September 2013

At an event this morning to preview a selection of prints from the National Media Museum Photography Collection Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum, confirmed a change to the previously announced opening exhibition and date for Media Space.

The public opening of Media Space will take place on Saturday, 21 September 2013 and the opening exhibition will be Tony Ray-Jones based on his archive held at the National Media Museum, Bradford. The show is being curated by Greg Hobson of the museum and the Magnum photographer Martin Parr.

Media Space is a joint project between the National Media Museum and the Science Museum. See: BPH passim.

Michael G Wilson OBE, chair of the Science Museum Foundation, spoke about the development of Media Space over twenty-five years and how London was the ‘last major city to bring photography to the public’. He commented that the addition of ‘the Royal Photographic Society Collection made us a world class photography collection’. Wilson's own important role in realising the original National Media Museum 'London presence', now Media Space, was acknowledged warmly by Blatchford.

The Media Space space on the third floor of the Science Museum in London is currently in the hands of the contractors as it undergoes refurbishment and works prior to the September opening.

In further National Media Museum news Michael Terwey has been appointed Head of Exhibitions and Collections, an important new role created as part of the museum restructuring. Terwey was previously acting Deputy Director and Head of Public Programme and, between 2010 and 2011, Exhibitions & Displays Manager at the museum.