Kent MOMI explores the deep history of the moving image — from the days of candle-lit magic lantern performances and hand-painted slides, through Victorian visual experimentation, to the advent and the heyday of the cinema.
Kent MOMI exhibitions draw principally upon our own collections of historic material, amassed over a period of 60 years, with happy additions of rare loan materials. The Museum also houses a 10,000-volume library, and supports research by academic and private scholars alike.
Children are also invited to take the challenge of our I-Spy tour around the museum, and can do so dressed up in cinema-themed costumes — as the Artful Dodger, Mary Poppins, a Hollywood glamour queen, or a resplendently uniformed commissionaire from the golden era of the picture palace.
Hands-on Children's Workshops allow children to create their own versions of more complex Victorian optical toys, e.g. kaleidoscopes. We have also mounted group visits on similar lines for local schools and home-schooled groups.
Exhibitions include:
“Representation & Remembrance, Art & Authenticity: World War One on Film and in the Media”. Life-size models of soldiers in authentic uniform, a life-size Charlie Chaplin cut-out, the aviation section, and our mock-up of an officer's dugout, crammed with items of entertainment and diversion, have proven especially interesting to younger visitors, as well as film clips and arresting posters.
“Passport to Ealing: The Films and Their Posters”. Ealing Studios' unique and colourful posters appeal to all ages – as does our loop of clips from the famous comedies and other films. This exhibition has lots of quirky features to for children to explore – drawers to open (with some surprising contents!), books to read, even a ukelele to play!
“35,000 Years to Catch a Shadow: A Reflective Exhibition”. This innovative exhibition re-imagines the history of cinema in light of the much, much longer history of the arts and technologies of the shadow – cave paintings, shadow puppets, silhouettes, photographs, and moving images. Children (and grown-up children) can take over our shadow puppet theatre, spin the zoetrope, and make their own thaumatropes.
“Vinten Cameras: A Very British Story”. Vinten were film pioneers – and are still in production. A small but intriguing exhibition of authentic cinema “hardware”, that gives younger people a real sense of the pre-digital history of the screen experience.
We are proud to be fully wheelchair accessible, and to offer a lift, the most beautiful disabled loo in Britain, and seating in almost every room and gallery. We have a well-priced café, a shop (with unusual items and bargains for all ages), and a sunny walled garden.
Historic Periods
Victorian (1837-1901)
Edwardian (1901-1914)
World Wars (1914-1945)
Post-War (1945+)
Opening Times
11am-5pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.
Larger groups welcome by appointment.
Last entries: 30 minutes before closing.
Cost
Adults £7.00.
Concessions £6.00.
Under 16 £4.00.
Children under 8 free.
Family ticket (2 adults plus 2 or more children) £15.00.
More information
Telephone:01304 239515
Website: https://www.kentmomi.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentMOMI/
Facilities
Toilets onsite
Shop
Café
Disabled Parking
Parking nearby
Audio guides
Wheelchair accessible
Address
41 Stanhope Road
Deal
CT14 6AD