Manchester Science Festival

What Manchester Science Festival does

Manchester Science Festival is an annual 10-day science engagement event organized and hosted by the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, UK. The 2024 edition ran from 18–27 October 2024, exploring themes at the intersection of nature, human capability, and creativity through entertaining events, immersive performances, family activities, and hands-on experiences. The festival operates as a free-admission, community-driven public engagement program rather than a standalone commercial enterprise.

The festival sits within the broader Science and Industry Museum portfolio, which includes permanent attractions such as Power Up (a retro video gaming experience) and Wonderlab+ (interactive science exhibits). Distribution is anchored by the museum's physical venue on Liverpool Road, Manchester (M3 4FP), open daily 10:00–17:00, supplemented by a dedicated school and group booking system and cross-promotion through the wider Science Museum Group network spanning five major UK museums and a Science and Innovation Park.

Manchester Science Festival does not generate direct revenue. It is funded indirectly through the Science Museum Group's charitable funding model, corporate sponsorships (notably Booking.com and Manchester Airports Group as associate sponsors), donations, and venue hire. The lead educational partner is the University of Salford, which provides academic credibility and audience access. Customer segments include families with children (primary), schools and educational groups (primary), and the general public/adults (secondary), reached through the museum's website, email newsletter, blog, and social media channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram).

Name

Manchester Science Festival

Website

https://manchestersciencefestival.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Manchester Science Festival is an annual 10-day free science engagement event hosted by the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, UK, serving families, schools, and the general public through immersive performances, hands-on activities, and educational programming as part of the Science Museum Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Science Festivals

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

Keywords

• Science festival events
• Public science engagement
• Educational programming
• Family science activities
• Museum-led exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Museum Operations and Event Management: As a festival organized by the Science and Industry Museum (a public institution), Manchester Science Festival operates as a free admission event. The museum receives funding through the Science Museum Group, corporate partnerships, and donations. Revenue generation is indirect, through visitor engagement, sponsorship, and support mechanisms rather than direct ticket sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Manchester Science Festival is an annual 10-day science festival organised by the Science and Industry Museum (part of the Science Museum Group) that delivers a programme of live events, performances, hands-on activities, and interactive experiences for families, schools, and the general public. Admission is free, with content curated to make science accessible and engaging across age groups.

Product overview

Manchester Science Festival is an annual event organized by the Science and Industry Museum (part of the Science Museum Group). The festival runs as a 10-day program featuring live events, performances, family activities, and hands-on experiences. It complements the museum's permanent attractions including Power Up (a retro gaming experience) and Wonderlab+ (interactive science exhibits).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manchester Science Festival An annual 10-day public science festival featuring live events, performances, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for families, schools, and the general public, offered free of charge.
• Power Up

Quantifiable outcome

• Festival takes place over 10 days with programming spanning multiple venues and spaces within the Science and Industry Museum

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Science Museum GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization that operates the Science and Industry Museum. The Science Museum Group includes 5 major museums and the Science and Innovation Park. Manchester Science Festival is an integral part of the museum's annual programming.
• Salford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead educational partner of Manchester Science Festival. Salford University provides academic expertise and credibility, helping connect the festival with university communities and enhancing educational programming.
• Booking.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociate sponsor of Manchester Science Festival. Provides marketing exposure and promotional support for the festival through sponsorship arrangements.
• MAG (Manchester Airport)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociate sponsor of Manchester Science Festival. As a major regional business, MAG provides sponsorship support enhancing festival visibility and connecting with regional business community.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edinburgh Science Festival: Edinburgh Science Festival is one of the UK's largest annual science festivals, offering a multi-day program of events, workshops, and performances across Edinburgh. It is the most direct comparable to Manchester Science Festival given matching format, audience (families, schools, adults), and UK-wide footprint.
• Cheltenham Science Festival: Cheltenham Science Festival is an annual UK science festival featuring talks, demonstrations, and family activities. Comparable to Manchester Science Festival in target audience, science engagement format, and partnership-led programming model.

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Collection: Wellcome Collection in London is a free museum and library combining science, medicine, life, and art through exhibitions and events. Comparable as a free-admission science-focused cultural institution offering public programming for general and educational audiences.
• Royal Institution: The Royal Institution in London delivers public science engagement including the Christmas Lectures, family workshops, and adult talks. Comparable in science communication mission and family/educational audience focus, though based in a permanent London venue.
• Science Museum (London): The Science Museum in London is the flagship venue of the Science Museum Group that operates Manchester Science Festival. It is a broad incumbent offering year-round science exhibitions, events, and education programming, serving a national rather than regional audience.
• Natural History Museum (London): The Natural History Museum in London is a major UK cultural institution offering free admission, family programming, after-hours events, and science education outreach. Comparable as a free-admission science museum with public programming and school engagement at scale.
• Science and Media Museum (Bradford): The Science and Media Museum in Bradford is another venue in the Science Museum Group network. It operates year-round exhibitions focused on media, photography, and technology, offering programming comparable in scope to Manchester Science Festival but as a permanent venue rather than a festival.

Others

• British Science Association: The British Science Association runs the annual British Science Week and supports science engagement across the UK. It is thematically comparable as a national science engagement organization but focuses on decentralized events and policy advocacy rather than operating a single signature festival.

Emerging players

• We The Curious (Bristol): We The Curious is a Bristol-based science center and charity offering hands-on science exhibits and events. Comparable to Manchester Science Festival's family-oriented, hands-on science engagement model, though it operates as a permanent venue rather than a festival.

Regional players

• Glasgow Science Centre: Glasgow Science Centre is a Scottish science museum and education charity offering interactive exhibits, an IMAX cinema, and public events. Comparable as a free or low-cost regional UK science engagement venue, though based in Scotland rather than Manchester.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ScienceandIndustryMuseum
• Facebookfacebook.com/scienceandindustrymuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manchester-science-festival
• Instagraminstagram.com/scienceandindustrymuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Manchester Science Festival