Filming and Photography

• Beamish welcomes photography for personal, non-commercial use. We love to see photographs of you, your family, friends and colleagues enjoying their day at the museum, so why not share your snaps with us on Facebook and Instagram.
• Please be considerate of other visitors when taking photographs, be aware of your surroundings and don’t block access to footpaths or exhibits while taking photographs.
• It is your responsibility to ensure copyright and other laws are not infringed.
• The use of tripods, monopods or supplementary lighting is not permitted, this is to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and volunteers and prevent damage to our exhibits and collections.
• Drones are not permitted. This is to ensure the safety and security of our staff, visitors and residents, our exhibits, collections, and private areas, to prevent disturbance for our livestock and to protect our overhead Tramway wires, and service.
• Photographs can be taken for domestic use only. Should you wish to use any of the photographs for commercial purpose (such as wedding, engagement and/or occasion photography, including where a fee has been paid) you will require further permissions from the communications team. 
• Commercial or larger scale filming or photography is not permitted without prior agreement and arrangement with the museum’s Communications Team. For enquiries please contact communications@beamish.org.uk.
• Photographers are asked to make sure they have specific permission from anyone they’re photographing, including groups and schools.
• Please do not photograph children who are not part of your party or group. If in the judgement of Beamish staff, behaviour of a visitor shows reluctance to comply then this will be reported to the identified safeguarding lead or a senior member of staff.
• We reserve the right to refuse entry to the museum, or ask someone to leave, if photography is deemed inappropriate by Beamish staff.
• If you have any questions please contact communications@beamish.org.uk.

Beamish Museum is unique. As such, we would always recommend that a recce is conducted by the production company, even if you feel that you are familiar with the museum. During a recce, you will be guided around the museum by a member of Beamish staff, and will be provided with essential information relating to filming at Beamish.

Before arranging a recce, please complete our filming request form so that we can plan a recce which meets the requirements of your filming.

Please contact our Communications Team to arrange a recce at communications@beamish.org.uk.

We do, where possible, allow student filming and photography at the museum, but it depends on the nature of the request and whether it can be accommodated alongside museum operations. Student filming must be organised in advance by contacting a member of our Communications Team. A filming request form will need to be completed. Please contact communications@beamish.org.uk.

We do offer an exclusive facility fee for students wishing to film at the museum. To find out more, please contact communications@beamish.org.uk.

All film crews and still photographers must be covered by Public Liability Insurance for a minimum of £5million. Before filming can take place, you will need to confirm that the filming would be covered by the school/college/university’s public liability insurance and supply us with copy of the insurance certificate. This should be sent to the Communications Team at least seven working days before filming is due to take place.

Due to the nature of Beamish Museum, there are a number of conditions for filming and photography. A full list will be provided to you but, before filming can proceed, we will need to receive the following documentation:

• Completed filming request form with comprehensive details of your requirements.
• Proof of Public Liability Insurance to a minimum value of £5million, valid for the entire time you shall be working at the museum.
• Full details of all equipment.
• Number of crew/personnel attending the shoot.
• Registration details for any vehicles coming onsite.
• A signed copy of the Conditions and Site Rules document which will be provided to you by your museum contact person once your requirements have been agreed.

Ideally, filming should take place on a weekday. Please note, we cannot, under any circumstance, close any areas of the museum to visitors during our opening hours (winter: 10am – 4pm, summer: 10am – 5pm). If filming requires the exclusive use of a building (internally or externally) then filming will take place outside opening hours so that visitors are not inconvenienced.

All film crews/photographers must be accompanied by a member of Beamish staff at all times.

All fees are based on the individual requirements of each project. To find out more, please contact communications@beamish.org.uk.

If you would like to find out more about filming at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, please contact:

E: communications@beamish.org.uk.

E: Francesca Boyle, Communications Officer, francescaboyle@beamish.org.uk