Fancy dress gaming day

ISSUED: 11th August 2010

Have you ever wanted to spend the day with Lara Croft, Super Mario, PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong and Zelda? As part of its birthday celebrations, the Museum of Computing in Swindon is holding a 'Fancy dress gaming day' on Saturday 14th August.

Members of the public are invited to dress as their favourite games character to get free admission to the museum and a prize will be awarded for the best costume. There will be lots more happening including some 'old school' gaming, face painting and mask making. Those who aren't brave enough to dress up can still take advantage of the museum's recently reduced admission charges. The museum will be open from 09:30 to 17:00.

Events Manager Julian Hogan said "It's going to be an amazing day, we're hoping for a big turnout and a lot of fun, all the volunteers will be dressing up"

The museum has staged a variety of public events including PAC-MAN and Space Invaders on Swindon's "Big Screen'', as well as providing dedicated exhibitions for the Science Museum at Wroughton and the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. The 'human PAC-MAN' event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of PAC-MAN received international media coverage and generated a huge amount of interest for the museum

18 months ago, the future of the UK's first dedicated computer museum seemed uncertain. After a year in storage it seemed unlikely that suitable premises could be found for this unique collection. But thanks to Swindon Borough Council, a new home in Swindon town centre was offered to the museum and one year on, the museum is growing in popularity. The Museum recently held a VIP drinks party to show its supporters and sponsors the latest exciting developments in the museum.

Museum curator Simon Webb said "We've been doing an enormous amout of work in the gallery and its looking great. We have a fantastic team of volunteers who are making the museum a great place to visit. We've many new exhibits as well as lots more hands-on areas"

As well as the more visible improvements to the museum there has been a great deal of work going on in the background. Collections Manager Dianne Reuby has been working towards museum accreditation for the past two years and an application has now been submitted to the Museums and Libraries Archive Council. A new exhibition curated by typewriter historian Nick Fisher called 'Before the Computer' will look at the technologies that have been replaced by the modern computer and is due to open later this year.

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The Museum of Computing was the first dedicated computer museum in the UK, opening in 2003. It is a non-for-profit Company limited by guarantee and is run entirely by volunteers. The museum has a collection of over 3000 objects related to the history of computing and holds regular exhibitions and events.

Opening times are Saturdays from 9.30am to 5 pm and Mondays from 10am to 4pm.

There is a classroom for talks, PC clinics, gaming events and school visits.

The museum is in Swindon town centre at 6-7 Theatre Square, Swindon SN1 1QN, at the top of Regent Street close to the new Central Library.

Admission fees are £5.00 for a family ticket, £2 for adults, £1.50 for Students and Concessions, children age 6-15 yrs cost £1, under 5's go free. All children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. We welcome school parties and groups by appointment.

The museum is sponsored by the following organisations

Clark Holt Commercial Solicitors ( www.clarkholt.com) BlueClick PR ( www.blueclickpr.co.uk) Intel UK ( www.intel.com) Silent-G Design ( www.silent-g.co.uk) AlphaGalileo ( www.alphagalileo.org) Dennis's Removals and Storage ( www.dennissremovals.co.uk)

The museum is supported by the following organisations

Wiltshire Branch of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT ( www.@wiltshirebcs.org)

For further details, hi-res photos, screen grabs or interviews contact:

MagdalenaSzalachowska

Promotional Manager

Mobile: +44 (0) 7760 733 530

press@museumofcomputing.org.uk

For details on events, contact:

Julian Hogan

Events Manager

Mobile +44 7597 134477

events@museumofcomputing.org.uk

For details on the museum and exhibits, contact:

Simon Webb

Curator, Museum of Computing

Mobile +44 (0)7834 375628

info@museumofcomputing.org.uk

www.museumofcomputing.org.uk