A person viewed from behind sat on a wooden box structure in the exhibition space in We The Curious
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John James Theatre of Curiosity

Central to the Project What If experience, the ‘John James Theatre of Curiosity’ is an open discussion space which encourages visitors to explore how science works.

Published: 02/06/2025

We The Curious has a vision to ensure that ‘everyone is included, curious and inspired by science to make a better world possible.’ Thanks to the generosity of several funders, we have manifested that vision through the creation of Project What If - a bold new experience including a far-reaching equality programme, an experiment in participatory working and a community-led 1000m2 exhibition that removes barriers to participation and learning. Central to the Project What If exhibition is the ‘John James Theatre of Curiosity’ – a central discussion space which encourages visitors to explore how science works.

  • The Theatre construction was generously funded by The John James Bristol Foundation, which has a focus on tackling educational inequality and exclusion in science

  • The Theatre is a highly accessible and open space, with moveable seating to create spaces that welcomes different audiences and suit different learning preferences

  • It also features areas dedicated to gathering questions from visitors and staff

As a key central, focal point in our question-led exhibition Project What If, the John James Theatre of Curiosity also features areas dedicated to gathering questions. Visitors can hand-write their questions and post them up onto one of the Theatre pillars, as well as digitally upload new questions onto a Theatre screen and explore other questions on the beautiful digital question space.

The opening of the space marks a shift in the way that science centres have worked previously, with models of public participation moving away from a one-way download of information from researcher to visitor, and into a more collaborative process where all visitors, of all ages and experience, can question researchers and play an active part in their research projects, all with their opinions valued. 

The John James Theatre of Curiosity

We The Curious has worked with visitors, key partners and community groups to test various concepts for the Theatre, including ‘Curiosity Club’ with WECIL (The West of England Centre for Inclusive Living), and early concept ideas for the digital question space with staff and students from Bath Spa University Creative Computing. 

Rosalie White, Head of Programming for We The Curious, said “Along with the wider Project What If experience, the Theatre of Curiosity has evolved from input from visitors and collaboration with our research partners, and brings together our commitments to the people of Bristol, our ‘open source science’ and ‘diverse participation’ pledge, to ‘create a culture of curiosity’. It’s a truly unique space which can be adapted to our visitors’ interests and learning styles, as well as to our partner projects so will always be a different, and varied experience each time.”

Bristol has a great history in science, engineering and innovation and John James Bristol Foundation is delighted to support the next stage of bringing STEM subjects to the residents of Bristol to inspire the next generation of scientists.
Louise Hanson, CEO of the John James Bristol Foundation

Project What If 

The John James Theatre of Curiosity forms part of Project What If, inspired by 10,000 questions collected from every postcode in the city, Project What If is the first major science centre exhibition in the UK inspired entirely by the curiosity of a city’s residents. 

The project aims to reimagine the science centre experience, with the core of the exhibition built around seven questions, selected from the thousands of questions submitted by visitors and Bristol residents over three years. It is multidisciplinary, which means ideas are explained in different and often surprising ways, embracing art as well as science, while   celebrating and cultivating curiosity. 

You can read more about Project What If here.

About The John James Bristol Foundation 

Remembering the past – Reaching to the future – Giving back to Bristol 

Born in Bedminster, John James served in the RAF and became one of Britain’s most successful businessmen. John wanted to give back to the people of Bristol and donated large sums to health, education and the elderly. 

The John James Bristol Foundation continue to donate across these areas, aiming to help the wellbeing of as many Bristol residents as possible. 

www.johnjames.org.uk