The MAD Museum

UK's Only One

MAD is the country’s only permanent venue for mechanical art.

STEM & Design

Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Art and Design.

Creative Ideas

Combining inspirational imagination with clever and often witty design.

Interactive Fun

Encouraging kids to put down their remotes and be more hands-on.

What is The MAD Museum?

In a Snapshot… The MAD Museum does what it says on the tin! Based in the center of Stratford upon Avon, this quirky attraction displays interactive pieces of mechanical art, in particular; kinetic art and automata.

“MAD” stands for Mechanical Art and Design.
If you’re not quite sure what mechanical art is all about, think of the machines and gizmos used in Wallace and Gromit, Scrapheap Challenge and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In a nutshell, mechanical art is usually beautifully crafted, moving sculptures either made to have an exaggerated purpose or made simply for the fun of it.

Find out more about MAD here...
The pieces on display have been sourced from artists all around the world and the fact that nearly everything is interactive means kids and big kids(!) can really get stuck in. We encourage you to press buttons and to “release your inner inventor”. In a world full of computer screens and ‘do not touch’ signs, we’ve been told MAD is refreshingly satisfying.

As well as a lot of fun, The MAD Museum demonstrates inspirational creativity and clever, often witty design. We support the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and Art and Design.

Overall The MAD Museum is a fantastic playground for adults and a perfect treasure-trove for inquisitive kids. As well as being highly interactive and a lot of fun, this eccentric museum appeals to those with curious and methodical brains too. Figure out how the gears, sprockets, robotics and eccentric paraphernalia all engage with one another at the press of a button.

There are plenty of different styles of kinetic art and automata to interactive with. From marble machines and 3D faces to Flying mechanical birds and sand pictures. Even the museum’s founder has tried his hand at making an exhibit which is on display in the museum. It’s called ‘The Kitchenator’ and it’s a rolling ball sculpture made entirely out of things you would find in your kitchen. If you like art, design, science and/or engineering, The MAD Museum is for you.

Our Company History

MAD’s Resident Artists

Kinetic Art & Automata

Visiting The MAD Museum

The Team behind The MAD Museum

The MAD Museum is run by a local family from Kenilworth in Warwickshire. Richard Simmons’s enlisted his son, Iain Simmons and his nephew, Mike Abbotts to run the museum.
There are 4 full time members of staff and each person has been with the museum since it was launched in March 2012. Several of our part-timers have also been with MAD since it was all kicked off. As a small team, we all wear many hats, but our enthusiasm and passion for MAD pushes us to make sure The MAD Museum is always running as a well-oiled machine (excuse the pun!). . 

Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons

Founder of The MAD Museum

The Museum was the brain child of local entrepreneur, Richard Simmons. After having a successful career in property, building and online ventures, he wanted to establish the museum before retirement.  Richard has always had an eye for the unusual and an interest in mechanical objects and moving art. So in 2012 he set up the museum. Find out more here.

“I have always been fascinated by how things work and love to see how mechanical parts interact with each other.
The MAD Museum is a fantastic collection of some of the best pieces from artists across the UK and Europe.

 

I want kids to put down their mobiles and get inspired by interacting with engineering and design. There’re some fantastic things to witness at MAD and the great thing is we’re still growing, The MAD Museum is just getting bigger and better!”.

Richard Simmons

Awards

2014
Winner – Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Touch FM’s Pride of Stratford Awards 2014

Runner-up – Small Business of the Year Award
Touch FM’s Pride of Stratford Awards 2014

2015
Winner – The Bright Idea Award
Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Award 2015

Runner-up -The Kids & Families Award
Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Award 2015

2016
Runner-up – The Kids & Families Award
Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Award 2016

Runner-up – The Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Award 2016

2017
Runner-up – The Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Award 2017

Runner-up – The Kids and Families Award
Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Award 2017

2018
Runner-up -Arts Organisation of the Year
Stratford-upon-Avon Tourism Awards 2018

Runner-up – Team of the Year
Stratford-upon-Avon Tourism Awards 2018

2023
Runner-up – Best Museum
Warwickshire Little Ankle Biters’ Awards 2023

“MAD’s ethos of entertaining while being educational is brilliant! The intricate workings and clever contraptions are fascinating!”
Gavin Hewitt

BBC Chief correspondent.

For our latest opening information please seehere