We The Curious will be kicking off the summer season this week with the ‘Festival of What If’ from 26 – 31 July – an inspirational mix of events, activities, art, music and comedy, all framed around the question ‘What if I could change the world?’
Special events include an audience with Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, Aardman model making workshops, free Wallace and Gromit outdoor film screenings on Big Screen Bristol.
On Saturday 28 July, 2.30pm, We The Curious will be hosting ‘An Audience with Helen Sharman’ – in May 1991, Helen Sharman became the first British astronaut when she launched on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. She spent eight days orbiting the Earth, living and working on the MIR Space Station. Come and hear the story of her incredible journey – from answering the advert on the radio, learning Russian and the meticulous training, through to launch and landing. Find out how weightlessness feels, the importance of team spirit, and how you readjust to life on Earth.
There will also be special Aardman model making workshops (three times a day 26 – 29 July) – where you can join an expert model maker from Aardman Animations and discover how to make your very own model of inventor and faithful friend, Gromit. A lively and engaging session, with plenty of anecdotes about the Aardman studio and a chance to ask all your burning animation questions.
The Gromit model making workshops also tie in with the fantastic Gromit Unleashed 2 trail – you’ll even be able to pose with your own Gromit creation with the two statues which are on Millennium Square and in the foyer of We The Curious over the summer.
Big Screen Bristol will also be running free film screenings of A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave and A Matter of Loaf and Death. Screenings times are –
Thursday 26 July
– A Grand Day Out – 10.30am
– The Wrong Trousers – 12pm
– A Close Shave – 2pm
– A Matter of Loaf and Death – 4pm
Monday 30 July
– A Grand Day Out – 5.30pm
– The Wrong Trousers – 6pm
– A Close Shave – 6.30pm
– A Matter of Loaf and Death – 7pm
Throughout the Festival of What If, families can enjoy a day together making discoveries. Launching for the Festival, you’ll be able to choose your mission in the brand new 3D Planetarium show ‘Solar System Odyssey’, a presenter-led show with multiple missions and 28 different destinations to choose from, no two shows are ever the same – it could be the holiday destination of a lifetime!
Families can investigate how great ideas begin in ‘The Lightbulb Moment’ Studio show, team up for the chain reaction challenge and go behind the scenes to explore some colourful chemistry in the lab. If that’s not enough, spend some time with visiting artists and researchers, finding out about their work and getting involved yourselves.
The Festival of What If will also have a series of special evening comedy events, Planetarium nights events, robots, a free play-day on Millennium Square, and a special After Hours event.
For more information, and to book tickets, visit www.wethecurious.org or call 0117 915 1000 (Monday – Friday 9-5).