City’s Museum re-opens following £2.8m refurbishment

The Museum of Oxford is getting ready to welcome visitors as it prepares to re-open following a £2.8 million refurbishment.

The only museum dedicated to telling the history of the city and its people will re-open on Monday 11 October with new displays of objects, images, oral histories and interactive exhibits.

The redevelopment, which has tripled the size of the museum space, includes a new shop and reception desk, forming a much- improved welcome area and improved facilities for the museum’s 100+ volunteers.

The ground floor features two new galleries which will show the changing story of Oxford through its history and people, from Romans and Anglo-Saxons to the first Cowley factory workers, the infamous Cutteslowe Wall and its rich heritage through times of conflict and industry. Through collection items, video, audio and interactive displays, the exhibitions uncover what makes Oxford such a special place to live, work and study.

The new museum galleries and spaces will be a hub for the community to learn about and engage with their local history. It includes new spaces for schools learning, larger gallery spaces for more collection items, interactive displays, community exhibitions and opportunities, family activities and reminiscence workshops.

Mary Clarkson, Oxford City Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism says: “Amongst such an abundance of museums, the Museum of Oxford is significant in that it is the only one that is exclusively about the people of Oxford. The £2.8 million major investment has helped re-imagine the museum for a new generation and makes it an important cultural focus for our city and communities. I look forward to seeing all sorts of people getting involved by going on family trails, taking part in reminiscence projects, understanding the past in school’s workshops, contributing to and exploring community exhibitions and more. It’s a museum for everyone, where everyone can take part.”

During the museum’s closure, alongside the £2.8 million capital project, staff have been hosting important projects made with and by members of the community. Extracts of these will form the highlights of an opening exhibition and includes: Windrush Years, looking at the lives of Oxford’s Windrush generation and their descendants, Healing Spaces about child healthcare in Oxford’s hospitals, Queering Spires exploring the history of LGBTIQA+ spaces in the city and Mixing Matters connecting communities and celebrating culinary heritage.

The Museum of Oxford has received support and funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Oxford City Council, and Arts Council England to help with the redevelopment. It is very grateful to the major donors, trusts and foundations, companies, and individuals who have given significant financial support towards the capital campaign. To read about all the funders for the Oxford’s Hidden Histories project, visit the Museum’s Support Us pages.

For a full list of what’s on at the Museum visit: museumofoxford.org/whats-on

Opening Hours
Monday 10am – 5pm
Tuesday 10am – 5pm
Wednesday 10am – 5pm
Thursday 10am – 5pm
Friday 10am – 5pm
Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday Closed

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