Epigram visits We the Curious 'After Hours'

By Sofia Webster, Co-Deputy Editor and Megan Foulk, Co-Deputy Music Editor

Exclusively open to over 18s after the venue's usual visiting hours, Epigram visited We the Curious for their highly anticipated 'After Hours' event for a deep dive of all things science.

Having often walked past Bristol's much-loved museum during its extensive refurbishment period over the last two years, it is safe to say we were excited to finally see what the science and arts centre, dubbed 'Bristol's most surprising science experience', had to offer.

After being forced to close in April 2022 due to a fire, the venue has undergone significant refurbishment, repairing extensive fire and water damage.

Returning better than ever before, the long queue that snaked around the sides of the building on our arrival demonstrated just how much it has been missed by the city. Unaware of the exhibitions and installations that We the Curious had to offer ourselves, it is safe to say we were not disappointed.

As students, we are constantly learning, which can be overwhelming at times. Highly engaging and interactive, We the Curious introduces concepts in exciting, digestible ways, making learning an immersive experience and encouraging visitors to see the world through a more insightful and curious lens.

Running from 7-10pm, the event featured installations and exhibitions diving into the history of sand, hot-air balloons, bubbles and space, to name a few.

In addition to an array of science topics scattered throughout the venue, what makes We the Curious so special is its focus on championing Bristolian culture.

In an interactive animation display created in collaboration with the well-loved Aardman Productions, the logistics of stop-motion animation was explored with set materials from classics like Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph.

Interactivity is at the foundations of We the Curious as a venue. Not only aiming to tap into visitors curiosity, exhibits also allow people to discover things for themselves through experiments, creative activities, virtual reality and photography - highly encouraging you to tap into your inner child.

The highlight of the museums installations was the planetarium show in their state-of-the-art dome theatre, which can be distinctly seen from the Harbourside, even when the venue was shut for the last two years prior to re-opening.

Welcoming viewers inside the dome for an immersive flight through space, the planetarium experience explored meteor showers and asteroids, showcasing footage of DART's successful asteroid deflection in 2022.

A captivating yet relaxing end to a bustling evening of interactive experience, the after hours event only added to the novelty factor of an already hugely entertaining and well attended museum.

Have you visited We The Curious?