In The News!

If you're a regular reader of our blog or you've been to visit the toy museum recently you'll no doubt be aware that we've got a campaign going to collect memories of toys and childhood from people all over the Brighton and Hove area. The campaign is due to come to fruition next year, in order to coincide with 25 years of being open to visitors. Our idea is to gather thoughts and memories of people who are currently living in the area, who may have come from anywhere in the world, to share with other people. The memories will be put together and used to create a traveling exhibit, a book and new website which will be a permanent resource for people who are interested in toys, models and childhood generally.

As part of our activities to promote the project we've been approaching people in all sorts of places to get interested and promote the open evening we're having on Wednesday 9th of July from 5:30 to 7:30 where people can come along, have a look around the museum for free and sign up to be interviewed about their memories of their own toys which they used to play with. As well as getting a few pieces in local newspapers and magazines Andrea, our project manager for the Toys In The Community, Valuing Memories of dolls, teddy bears and construction toys initiative has been interviewed on the local BBC and Juice 107.2 radio stations. You can read about the interview Andrea gave to Juice here, unfortunately they don't appear to have a way of listening to the piece after broadcast but if you want to listen to Andrea waxing lyrical (although early in the morning, we admire her commitment!) then you can find the show by clicking on Neil Pringle's face.
So remember, if you're able to come along on the open evening, then please do, and if you're not able to come down but you're interested in contributing a memory, please do let us know by calling on 01273 749494 or email us at memories@brightontoymuseum.co.uk so we can arrange a time that's convenient for you to come to us or we could even come to you. We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Time To Stop Playing Around And Start Talking Toys

Brighton Toy and Model Museum is looking for people of all ages to participate in an oral history project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to speak about their memories of their childhoods and the toys they played with, of all types from the past up until today.
No matter what your background, whether you had a great collection of toys or just one favourite from which you could never be parted, they want to hear from you.

Brighton Toy and Model Museum opened underneath Brighton Train Station in in 1991. In order to celebrate its 25th anniversary in two years' time, museum staff are gathering memories from people from all walks of life to contribute to this heritage project. The Heritage Lottery Fund granted the museum funding for this venture which will result in a community based outreach project, a website, book and a touring exhibition, all of which will be completed in 2016.

The open evening will be held as a drop-in event on Wednesday, 9th of July 2014 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the museum, where you can go and meet other people involved in the project. Interviews won't be carried out at the event but staff will arrange a convenient time for you to come and be interviewed about your memories.

Light refreshments will be provided and the museum will be free to look around for the duration of the recruitment event. If you are unable to make it to the open evening but are interested in contributing your memories just email memories@brightontoymuseum.co.uk or phone 01273 749 494.

Still Lost in The Toy Museum - A Museums at Night event for Culture24

Something very strange occurred at the Toy Museum on the 17th of May,  something very strange indeed. Something that involved lost toys and people dressed in funny costumes.  This event was "Still Lost in the Toy Museum". An event that gave children (and grown-ups too) an evening of fun, games and creative projects. The event was presided over by the museum’s volunteers who had just as much fun as the children and parents who came.

(Waiting for the children to arrive)

Cakes were eaten, treasure hunts completed and tales told, in general, a wonderful time was had by all.

(Here, have a close up of some cake)

 The highlight of the evening was a story reading, by our resident actor/storyteller, Marc Sinclair.

(Here he is looking awesome in a rainbow waistcoat)

Marc did several readings throughout the evening, which had us all in stitches as he did different funny voices for each character.

(The parents are trying to squeeze themselves into our puppet theatre)

There were also plenty of arts and crafts activities for the children to have fun with, these ranged from puppets to glove rabbits and proved very popular with children and grown-ups alike.

(We’re all having lots of fun.)

Some of our volunteers got jealous and decided that they wanted to play with all of the toys as well.

(I’m a kid honest!)

Toys were hidden throughout the museum for the children to find.

(Shush, be very, very quiet, I’m hiding from the children.)
 Even Buddy the Museum Bear wanted to get in on the action.

(This looks like fun)

At the end of the evening everyone one was very tired and happy, we all agreed the event had been a big success.