Special Exhibition

I Grew Up 80s

3 December 2022 - 26 February 2023

This winter visitors to Dorset Museum are invited to take a trip back in time with the nostalgia-filled exhibition I Grew Up 80s.

In this fascinating time capsule of over 200 objects, you’ll experience the youthful exuberance of this iconic decade through the eyes of a child. Embark on a colourful adventure and discover toys, technology, fashion, rock bands, food, and even a vintage TV set showing archival footage of popular shows.  From Betamax to BMX, Dirty Dancing to Donkey Kong, the Thompson Twins to Transformers there is plenty for all age groups/generations to see, enjoy and share.

Curated by collector and social commentator Matt Fox, I Grew Up 80s is a colourful, immersive and family-friendly exhibition. It shows how different life was 30- 40 years ago when Matt was a child and ‘roamed about on our bikes, away from our parents and without the umbilical cord of mobile phones. In cinemas, Star Wars had ushered in a new era of special FX movies, music was a feel-good riot of colour and sound, and games consoles and home computers had transformed the humble telly into a host of imaginary worlds.’