News / We The Curious
Interactive timeline unveiled at We The Curious
A quarter of a century of We The Curious is celebrated in a new timeline made from visitors’ memories combined with elements of the attraction from over the years.
The interactive ‘Curious Timeline’ is now on display close to the main entrance of the science centre formerly known as At-Bristol.
It covers everything from the very beginnings of the space before it was built at the turn of the millennium to former exhibits and people’s connections to the building, including visitors who came as children themselves and now bring their own little ones.
“People sent in some amazing memories and really personal stories and recollections,” said We The Curious creative director Rosalie White on a recent morning as the finishing touches were still being put to the timeline.
“So we decided to take those stories and create a physical timeline, using those as a guide to help us mark 25 years.
“Rather than us deciding what were the big milestones, we wanted to ask people in the city and visitors what they remembered, and we’ve shaped our timeline around that.”
The Curious Timeline celebrates 25 years of We The Curious – photo: We The Curious
Stroud-based design studio Stand + Stare was commissioned to create the timeline and visited We The Curious’ storeroom to use what they could find, including the prototype of the hexagonal rainbows exhibit.
“We had this idea of the materials almost becoming characters and coming back out into the foyer to tell the story of the last 25 years,” said Stand + Stare’s Lucy Telling.
“Luckily there was loads of stuff in the storeroom and we had a very exciting visit with Andy (Coco, We The Curious exhibitions manager) to look around.”
The characters on the timeline have now also begun appearing around the science centre and even on Millennium Square.
Various characters form part of the Curious Timeline – photo: Martin Booth
Interactive elements on the timeline include a video of the same girl visiting six years apart, as well as audio memories.
Stand + Stare co-founder Barney Heywood added: “We had no idea what the memories were going to be and how they were going to match up with the materials but we managed to find ways of threading those together.”
At the end of the timeline, people are invited to think about what’s next for We The Curious. What will it be like in the next quarter of a century?
Main photo: Martin Booth
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