The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

I'm not an academic but I am a huge fan of film and cinema history, so one of the things I always look for when I'm travelling are movie-related exhibits. Though we were staying 1hr+ away from Exeter University, this bijou museum is so great and well-curated it totally made the trip worth it.

If you're a new or dedicated film history lover they will have something you’ll want to see. The displays (temporary and permanent) are a fantastic mix of ephemera like posters, media kit mailers, shooting schedules, and great behind the scenes artifacts from throughout film history. [BTW: The current temporary exhibit is a great collection of Marilyn Monroe items that look at her life and her impact over the past 100 years.]

The collection may be eclectic but doesn't feel cobbled together or disconnected. It’s all put together in a way that explains history and technologies in a way that, even if you don't have prior knowledge, is fun and accessible.

The pre-film elements of the displays--shadow puppets, optical illusions, magic lanterns and more-- gave us a deeper appreciation of how hundreds of years of visual entertainment from people and cultures around the world came together to bring us moving pictures and modern cinemas.

There's a smaller collection of film cameras and projectors, but what they have is so cool--including (if I'm remembering correctly) a film camera that was the first to record and bring back images from WW2.

We were lucky enough to meet an assistant curator--who showed us her favourite items in the exhibit--and one of the brilliant staff researchers and assistants. Though–and I cannot stress this enough–we're not academics, Natasha took the time to research questions and email me with what she'd found. That kind of dedication to sharing specialist knowledge in an open way is so precious and should never be taken for granted.

I can't wait till my next trip down south so I can check out the upcoming temporary exhibits. I’d also 100% make the trip to participate in any open special events!

Exeter University is so lucky to have such a great space available to the community, the city, and visitors. The Bill Douglas Museum may seem too small to be worth the trip, but it’s a must-see. Clearly built with love and care and tended to by a staff with knowledge they make time to share, I honestly think this is a great way to learn about the movies for almost any age.