The UK's first dedicated computer museum, the
Museum
of Computing in Swindon, is seeking a new home as it is facing eviction in
the coming months.
The Museum of Computing is currently housed in the business library of the
University of Bath at Swindon's Oakfield campus.
However, the university will be withdrawing from the Oakfield campus in July,
leaving the museum to seek out new premises for the 2,000 hardware exhibits,
2,500 software items and around 1,500 books, manuals, magazines and sundry
items.
The Museum of Computing costs the public nothing to maintain, operating as a
not-for-profit company run entirely by volunteers on a budget garnered from
donations and sponsorship.
Intel confirmed a sponsorship programme last year that has enabled
improvements to displays and an education outreach programme.
Exhibitions have gained global media coverage in a wide variety of formats
and channels.
The most popular exhibition was 'High Score' which covered the computer
gaming industry from the very early years.
It included an East German arcade machine which was incredibly rare because
it is the last of three surviving machines and is the only one in working order.
Other exhibitions include 'A History of Home Computers', 'Computers on the
Move' and 'Calculator'.
The museum's current 'Pong to PlayStation' exhibition focuses on the history
of the games console and is due to tour six other venues in the UK from April
2009.
It is seeking a new location in Swindon with 75 square metres of exhibition
space, disabled access and 100 square metres of storage space. Preferably these
would be adjoining premises.
"Ideally we feel the museum should remain in Swindon, partly because we have
an enthusiastic and dedicated team of volunteers, without whom it could not
survive," said founder and local solicitor Jeremy Holt.
The museum is also looking for people who can offer transport, physical help
or funding to support the relocation.
Those who may be able to help are asked to contact the curator, Simon Webb,
on info@museum-of-computing.org.uk or +44 (0)7939 582544.
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