Urgent appeal to save future of Sheffield's unique video game museum

Charity BGI has launched the appeal to the public to protect its National Videogame Museum, following its closure last week to protect visitors and staff.

The museum is the only museum in the UK solely dedicated to the collection and preservation of videogame culture, and one of the world’s leading institutions in this field.

Previously located in Nottingham, it moved to Castle House, the Grade II-listed 1960s former Co-op department store building on Angel Street in Sheffield city centre, in November 2018.

Operated by the BGI, an educational charity dedicated to educating the public about videogames, the NVM hosted more than 40,000 visitors in 2019, including thousands of schoolchildren in scores of school visits.

The museum recently enjoyed its busiest week ever and had been planning an ambitious programme celebrating games studios and games culture in 2020-21, including workshops tied to the national curriculum, an international videogames preservation network and new exhibitions including the first of its Great British Studio shows with Rebellion Developments.

Ian Livingstone, BGI chairman and NVM founding patron, said: “Coronavirus threatens the very existence of this unique place. The UK’s only museum dedicated to videogames is now under threat.

“As a new charity which uses video games to inspire the next generation, we have no safety net to help the museum weather the storm.”

Individuals can donate to the appeal at JustGiving.com/campaign/savethenvmuk, while companies are urged to contact the charity to become permanent patrons of the Museum.

The NVM educates the public about the art, science, history and technology of video games.

It celebrates video game culture and allows the public to play most of its exhibits, which include consoles, arcade machines and other interactive experiences.

The museum displays the UK’s only permanently accessible collection of more than 100 video games as well as a large collection of game memorabilia and ephemera – see thenvm.org