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The Atkinson
Ticket Booking: 01704 533 333

I Grew Up 80s

Date:  Saturday 13 November 2021  –  Saturday 19 March 2022


Free Entry

Monday – Saturday. 10am – 4pm.
Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays.
Plan your visit here.


Get ready to pull up your leg warmers and scramble your Rubik’s Cubes, as the exciting new exhibition, I Grew Up 80s is coming to The Atkinson!

You’ll travel through the cultural landscape of 1980’s Britain through the eyes of a child – revisiting the vibrancy, quirkiness and innovation that defined the decade.

Discover over 200 iconic treasures – from BMX to Betamax, Dirty Dancing to Donkey Kong, Thompson Twins to Transformers.

If you grew up in the 80s get ready to exclaim “I remember that!”

The exhibition is curated by Matt Fox and is drawn from his personal collection of 80s memorabilia.

Walkman TPA-L2 (Sony Japan 1979) – Now That’s What I Call Music (Virgin / EMI UK 1983)
BMX Raleigh Burner (Raleigh UK 1982 – 1988) – Raleigh Vektar (Raleigh UK 1985)
Confectionery (Various UK 1980s)
80s music


Share your photographs

Did you have a Polaroid Camera, Kodak Ektralite, Canon AE-1?… We want to see your iconic 80s photos; the fashion, the hair, the memories!

Tag us on social media or email your photos to info@theatkinson.co.uk. We will display our favourites in the galleries and in an online exhibition.

David Yeates and Matthew
Maghull House and Mazda RX7
Joanne Sheeran & Friend Tara
80s Interior


Events

Board Games Event
Saturday 19 February 2022. 11am-3pm. Free, drop in event.
What’s your favourite Board Game, Buckaroo, Guess Who, Hungry Hungry Hippos?… Join us at The Atkinson as we play some games suitable for all the family and delve into the exciting and creative world of board games!

UC Crew: Break Dancing Display
Saturday 19 February 2022. 12:30pm-1:30pm. Free, booking is not required. 
UC Crew takeover the Town Hall Gardens outside The Atkinson for a spectacular Break Dancing display, with performances from children, young people & adults from across Sefton.

80’s Music
Relive the magic of the 80’s music scene! Are you a Super Trouper?… Livin’ On A Prayer?… Radio Ga Ga?…

ABBA Reunion – 28 January 2022
Jive Talkin’ perform the Bee Gees – 29 January 2022
The Bon Jovi Experience – 26 February 2022
Queen Rhapsody – 25 March 2022


Further Reading

Online talk with Matt Fox (recording)
I Grew Up 80s is curated by Matt Fox and is drawn from his personal collection of 80s memorabilia.

Southport Visiter
It was respectable… in the 80s!

ITV Granada
Remember leg warmers and rubik’s cubes? A new 80’s exhibition opens in Southport.

The Guide Liverpool
Childhood memories from the 1980’s will come flooding back thanks to a brand new exhibition in Southport.

In Your Area
Southport Nostalgia: I Grew Up 80s exhibition opens at The Atkinson.

Liverpool Echo
From BMX to Opal Fruits – 80s treasures you can revisit on Merseyside.

Stand Up For Southport
I Grew Up 80s opens at The Atkinson in Southport as the exhibition’s first North West venue.


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