Exhibitions API
This API returns a list of all Science Museum exhibitions and galleries, past and present.
Contents
Making a request
This API follows a REST design pattern.
There is currently no need for an API key to make a request.
Methods
There is currently only a single method for this API.
Exhibitions
This method returns a list of all current and previous galleries and exhibitions at the Science Museum, along with some basic information about each.
The URL for this method is http://api.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/. It must be called using a GET request.
There are currently two different forms of output, XML and JSON. The default is XML. To request a JSON output, add the parameter output=json. To specify a 'callback' for the JSON output, add a callback=functionName parameter.
Example XML response:
<sciencemuseum>
<exhibitions maximum="1000" returned="84">
<exhibition id="1082" admission_fee="no" closed="no"
website="http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/galleries/agriculture.aspx">Agriculture</exhibition>
<exhibition id="1056" admission_fee="no" opened_on="2001-12-01" closed_on="2001-05-31">
Alfa Romeo Sustaining Beauty</exhibition>
...
</exhibitions>
</sciencemuseum>Example JSON response:
{
"exhibitions": [
{
"id": "1082",
"name": "Agriculture",
"admission_fee": false,
"opened_on": null,
"closed_on": null,
"closed": false,
"website": "http:\/\/www.sciencemuseum.org.uk\/visitmuseum\/galleries\/agriculture.aspx"
},
{
"id": "1056",
"name": "Alfa Romeo Sustaining Beauty",
"admission_fee": false,
"opened_on": "2001-12-01",
"closed_on": "2001-05-31",
"closed": null,
"website": null
}
...
]
}The data format should be fairly self explanitory. The following table gives more details:
| Node | Attribute | Example value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| exhibitions | name | Space | The name (or title) of the exhibition. Note: sub-titles may be specified within this string using a colon (:) or a dash ( - ). Always returned. |
| exhibitions | maximum | 100 | The maximum number of exhibitions in the results set. This can be set using the maximum=50 request parameter. The highest number allowed, and default, is 1000. |
| exhibitions | returned | 84 | The actual number of exhibitions in the results set. |
| exhibition | id | 1151 | Unique id. Always returned. |
| exhibition | opened_on | 2008-05-22 | The date that the exhibition was first opened to the public. Returned in ISO 8601 format. Returned only if known. |
| exhibition | closed_on | 2008-05-25 | The date that the exhibition was last opened to the public on. Returned in ISO 8601 format. Returned only if known. |
| exhibition | closed | yes or no | This is used in conjunction with the opened_on and closed_on attributes, and specifies whether the exhibition is still open or not IF this cannot be calculated from the opened_on and closed_on dates on their own. Eg if an opened_on date is known, but the closed_on date is not known, then the closed might be specified as 'yes' to let you know that the exhibition is no longer open. Alternatively, if the opened_on date is not known but the exhibition is still open, this might be specified as 'yes'. Returned only if known and if not computable from the dates. |
| exhibition | admission_fee | yes or no | Specifies whether a special admission fee was/is charged for this exhibition. Note: if there was an exhibition charge for the museum as a whole, but no extra charge for the exhibition, then 'admission_fee' is still specified as 'no'. Optional, returned only if known. |
| exhibition | website | http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/aliens/ | Specifies a webpage where you can find out more information about the exhibition. Optional, returned only if available. |
Usage policy
Requests should be limited to one per minute.
The data is made available on an 'as is' basis, and the Science Museum makes no guarantee of its accuracy.