Last Saturday (27^th April, 2013), the highly distinguished, award winning BBC European Editor, Gavin Hewitt came to The MAD Museum.

 Gavin had travelled to Stratford upon Avon to give a talk about Europe –A Continent in Crisis in the Stratford Literary Festival, so we were really pleased he managed to find the time and pop in and see us too.

 MAD’s eccentric tour guide Derek showed Gavin all around the museum; explaining the workings of exhibits and telling him about the company.  We are happy to say Gavin really enjoyed his visit and was particularly impressed with the rolling ball machines and roaring mechanical dinosaur.  He was wonderfully enthusiastic about MAD’s ethos of ‘entertaining and educational’ and seemed to be fascinated by the intricate workings and clever contraptions on display.

He took home some MAD goodies and kindly posed for some photos with us too. Thanks for stopping by Gavin!  

Feedback note from Gavin Hewitt 27/04/13

Thank you,

Was great fun with science included! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Best, Gavin

There are 12 mechanical eggs to locate in total. Find them all to be entered into the prize draw to win MAD gift shop toys, games and goodies and 1 family ticket to The MAD Museum.
Come rain or shine, this museum offers families and kids of all ages the chance to embrace their inner inventor, see some incredible examples of mechanical art and have a lot of fun along the way!

Competition is running from Saturday 23rd March until Friday 12th April 2013.
Come and see us at The MAD Museum, Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire. CV37 6EF
The Museum is open every day 11.00 – 5.00. The winners will be emailed after the 14th April.

Have a cracking Easter!

This Thursday 14^th February, treat your other half to a trip for two with a difference at The MAD Museum!

Normal opening times apply. This offer is not to be used in conduction with any other deals.

The MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum has been a lifelong dream for founder, Richard Simmons who first had the idea for a mechanical museum over 20 years ago.

Having spotted a great venue in Stratford upon Avon he hoped that a completely unique and exciting attraction full of show stopping pieces of kinetic art and automata would be just what the town needed!

Being a local business entrepreneur, Richard wanted to create a team around him which would fully understand his own interests but also his sense of warmth and family culture. Mentioned below is a little bit about the team at MAD and their roles…

Richard’s son, Iain takes care of MAD Museum business at the office. His behind the scenes duties include being the main port of call for all the current and future MAD contributors and he also handles all the finances and administrative responsibilities. A couple of times he has even been thrown into the limelight to appear on local and national radio.

Iain graduated at Sheffield University and went on to become a qualified Chartered Accountant.  He is now married to Leanne and has two lovely children, Toby and Millie.

 

Mike Abbots is Richard Simmon’s nephew. He is the on-site manager in charge of the day-to-day operations of the museum and the smooth running of all the exhibits. His enthusiasm for maintenance, fine-tuning and being around mechanical wonders is what makes him tick – much to the envy of many, who think he has the best job in the world!

Mike is also our graphic designer, his degree in Graphics and Animation has been invaluable in creating our various adverts and posters, plus our website and online shop!  Mike has even stepped in as a MAD Museum tour guide a couple of times too!

 Libby Thompson – Front of House

The Front of House business falls to Libby Thompson. Libby is a mother of two and was originally offered the job by Richard Simmons in a queue at the bank! She has been with the company since day one and her friendly hospitality, switched-on practicality and bubbly character makes her a hit with all our customers.

As well as keeping the front of house in tip top condition and looking after reception and general administration tasks, Libby also manages the museum’s very popular and quirky gift shop. She also coordinates the various weird and wonderful events held at The MAD Museum and the training of new members of staff.  Libby is highly committed to making sure everyone who enters The MAD Museum, leaves happy (and she’s great with all the kids, even when the museum is at its busiest!)

Angela is responsible for all press and marketing at the museum. As well as juggling a number of Richard’s other projects, she is the main force behind developing brand awareness and spreading the word about The MAD Museum to as many people as possible across the UK and beyond.

Her responsibilities include overseeing all marketing strategy and literature, online information, press releases, engaging with potential customers at exhibition shows and forming relationships with schools, tour operators, group organisers and local businesses. She also approves all artwork, letters and media coverage.

Katie works alongside Angela in the Marketing department.  Katie’s main role at The MAD Museum is to coordinate school and group bookings and to see that all the details and requirements are attended to. She also ensures the museum shop is kept fully stocked with exciting new products!

Katie arranges editorial pieces and adverts in various national and regional publications and also promotes the museum at exhibitions for the public and trade. She keeps in touch with the artists, schools, the press and local businesses and accommodation, ensuring everyone is updated and informed about what is happening at The MAD Museum.  She also updates the museum’s Blog, Facebook, Twitter and Trip Advisor pages and makes sure we are fully represented on relevant tourism websites. Katie has also been known to step in as The MAD Museum resident photographer too sometimes!

 Curtis Allen – MAD Scientist

As school, group and event bookings are a regular occurrence at the museum, a good tour guide is essential! This is where Curtis comes in. Whatever the age, our steampunk-inspired MAD Scientist, Curtis, is great with all our visitors and is highly knowledgeable about the museum’s exhibits.

Curtis Allen performs a variety of roles for us; another including walking around Stratford upon Avon town centre on his stilts giving out leaflets, telling people about the museum and encouraging them to visit. His illustration skills also helped us achieve our MAD Scientist cartoon character, which we regularly use in our adverts and on posters.

As well as all this he is a DJ – Stilt walking – Heath Care Assistant and a graphic illustrator who presents science workshops and has a love of loud rock music and Kung Fu films. An interesting man indeed!

Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science. Opening in downtown Miami, 2015

MAD Museum founder, Richard Simmons recently returned from a short trip away to Miami, USA. While there, he went to The Miami Science Museum and was incredibly impressed with the vast assortment of things to see and do there! The rich insights into scientific and mathematical principals were inspiring and were very entertaining by virtue of being highly interactive. Richard found the exhibits both interesting and profoundly thought provoking while also being delighted with the helpful nature of all the staff; in particular he remarked about the very passionate curator charged with looking after the live coral displays!

While exploring around the museum, Richard discovered that there were new plans afoot for the museum to become even bigger and better. In early 2015 there will be a brand new science museum built called the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science which is set to open in downtown Miami. This 250,000sq ft science museum will house an enormous aquarium, planetarium and roughly 30,000sq ft filled with exhibits. The ethos behind the new museum is “The future begins here” and we hope that this vision will be experienced by every visitor.

Richard also met with Gillian Thomas, President and CEO and Sean Duran, Vice President of Exhibitions. Both Gillian and Sean were already aware of The MAD Museum having heard about it via the internet and were very excited about the type of art we showcase in the UK. Sean told Richard that the museum is currently searching the globe far and wide, with a call to artists for submissions to exhibit their work at the new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science.

Back at the office, we have been putting on our MAD thinking hats and we are cooking something up to see if we might even submit a piece to the museum ourselves, so watch this space!

Richard was very impressed with the museum in Miami and the hospitality shown to him. He’ll definitely be going back in 2015 to see the incredible new science building and exhibits!

Find out more at- www.miasci.org

Since a new year has just rolled over, I thought now was a good time to tell you what we have been up to since The MAD Museum opened last March and also to mention a little about our plans for the year ahead.

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The MAD Museum opened its doors on 23rd March 2012 but has already become one of the most popular attractions in Stratford upon Avon with over 13,000 people coming through the doors in only 9 months.

Radio: Founder Richard Simmons was interviewed twice on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and has also featured on the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Art Show with Claudia Winkleman.

A big thank you to everyone who helped The MAD Museum in 2012! May the success continue…..

Due to ongoing requests from our visitors, the MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum in Stratford upon Avon has now launched a new online shop! Pick from an eclectic assortment of wind-up toys, sound machines, marble runs, bubble robots, IQ tests, weird science experiments and much more!

Perfect for little kids and big kids alike, whether you’re shopping for stocking fillers, birthday presents or party gifts. The MAD Museum’s online shop is full of quirky gadgets and games to help inspire the imagination, encourage practical creativity and make science fun!

As with the museum, the online shop covers a wide range of the bizarre, the different and even the plain outrageous! Visit the shop today, you’d be MAD not to! www.themadmuseum.co.uk/shop

Merry Christmas from The MAD Museum.

Draw or Make a supernatural invention for your chance to win hair-raising MAD prizes.

This spooktober get in the Halloween mood at The MAD Museum, Stratford upon Avon.

Expect the unexpected as you look around The MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum. It’s chockablock full of crazy workings from some seriously barmy inventors and MAD scientists!

A spooky cackling witch, roaring mechanical dinosaur, crazy-eye-popping robot and handfuls of old-worldly gadgets; this collection of weird and wonderful exhibits and more can be enjoyed at Stratford upon Avon’s newest and most thrilling attraction.

The MAD Museum challenges you to create a crazy MAD-sterpiece of your very own!

Please design one of the following:

or

You’ll find tons of batty inspiration all around The MAD Museum!

Pick your favourite thing to design – Steampumpkin, Witch-craft or Halloweeen Machieeene and draw or make your very own blood-curdling invention! There will be winners in each of the 3 categories.

The winners will not only win amazing MAD goodies including a spooktastic sound machine and a family ticket worth £19.00, but their winning invention will proudly be displayed on The MAD Museum’s website and Facebook page.

Take part in this competition from Monday 22nd October up until Sunday 4th November (prize winners will be contacted via email once the competition has ended).

Running throughout October Half Term!

Monday 22nd October up until Sunday 4th November

At The MAD Museum, Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6EF.

Open: 11am –5pm (last admission 4.30pm), 7 days a week.

Tel: 01789 269356

Email: info@themadmuseum.co.uk

Whether you are an enthusiastic scientist, contraption fanatic or just looking for a good day out, make sure you come and visit this Half Term…You’d be MAD not to!

Based on the book by Russell Hoban, a clockwork mouse and his child embark on a series of adventures in order to find their way back to the toy shop they call home.

This charming tale of daring bravery, desire for freedom and the bringing together of family and friends, is not only portrayed on the stage but throughout the RSC in their reading room and front of house reception halls; this is where The MAD Museum also takes part. As well as teaming up for various joint promotions, ticket deals and competitions, The MAD Museum collaborated with the RSC to help design their reception hall displays to reflect the clockwork theme.

From mid November there will be an amazing moving bird-like sculpture by artist Piotr Jedrzjewski, which flies suspended on wires between two balconies overhead. In another area, the MAD spinning and twirling Whirlymagiggle Cart will be on display. The cart was created especially for the museum by David Williams. Both the wonderful theatre production and the front of house displays provide a fabulous Christmas outing for families and groups of all ages to experience them in action!

‘The Mouse and His Child’ is showing from 17^th November 2012 – 12^th January 2013 at the RSC theatre in Stratford upon Avon and for an additional thrill, visit The MAD Museum just across the road in Sheep Street. The museum is open every day for visitors to see more amazing machines and weird, whacky inventions full of cogs, gears, marbles and mayhem!

The museum also offers school and group tours with the Steampunk inspired stilt-wearing MAD Scientist to provide a guided tour. Visits can be tailored to the needs of groups and there is a great MAD gift shop.

Come and visit us today – You’d be MAD not to!!

Find out more details at www.rsc.org.uk

We are pleased to announce, The MAD Museum will shortly be teaming up with Mad Science to provide primary schools and children’s groups with a fun and educational outing!

This unique package consists of an inspirational tour around The MAD Museum given by our eccentric MAD Inventor followed by a mind- boggling science workshop supplied by Mad Science.

From magnetic fields and sound waves to optical illusions and electricity- help kids see and really understand all about these key subjects.

These workshops are not only child friendly and chemically safe but they also tick the educational guidelines set by the government. www.madscience.org/westmidlands

2 great experiences all held at one venue!

It’s so much fun they won’t even realise they are learning!

Get in touch today for more information and to book your school trip!

jasmine@madsciencewm.co.uk

or call 0121 647 7450