The Ashmolean for all

The new multi-million pound transformation has been designed to give enjoyment and inspiration to people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Jo Rice, head of education at the museum, explained: “The joy of learning and excitement of discovery is at the heart of everything here and the new building allows us to do that so much better.”

Previously, she explained, the galleries were designed for a particular audience, very strongly academic, such as undergraduates and postgraduates.

“It worked brilliantly for them but if you were not that audience — schools, family learners, non-specialists and actually the majority of people visiting the galleries — then you had to work very hard to unlock some of the treasures, stories and secrets,” she added.

All that has now changed with orientation galleries on each floor to introduce key themes and provide story trails for visitors to follow.

“This is a massive change for the Ashmolean and is really exciting and positive,” Jo said.

“You can see the difference in the galleries, they have much clearer messages, stories and interpretations through the use of graphics, maps, information boards, touch screens, audio guides and timelines.”

The Ashmolean is keen to embrace as many different learning styles as possible, Jo added.

“It might be knowledge or enjoyment in the aesthetics— all of those are valid learning activities.

“It is not about setting people an exam on the way out. It is about inspiring people, which in itself is a learning outcome.

“If someone leaves feeling more relaxed or uplifted than when they came in, or having discovered something new or amazing, those are all things that we would like to encourage.

“Even if they just come in to escape from the rain. Why shouldn’t people do that? It is a beautiful, welcoming space,” she added.

One of the changes that will make the biggest difference to the Ashmolean’s ability to be a centre for inspiration and learning is its new facilities for schools and other groups.

“In the old building, there was limited space, no toilets for groups to use, nowhere for them to have lunch,”

Jo explained.

“The galleries were quite cramped and there was no designated space to do messier activities or quieter work.

“We had no disabled facilities and only one entrance so everybody, whether a small family group, or 100 foreign language students, all came in through the one front door. That created bottlenecks and was unsatisfactory for a museum of this scale and reputation,” she added.

The separate St Giles entrance architect Rick Mather has designed for groups and out-of-hours visitors and the roof-top restaurant will make a huge difference, Jo believes.

“It gives groups a significantly better experience because they are welcomed into a space that is not chaotic. We can take bags and coats as they come in. It is much more civilised.

“Where you have 60-70 children arriving all at once, you can bring them in and sort them out without them bunging up the doorway and feeling uncomfortable. It is a much more pleasant first encounter with the museum,” she said.

The new access also gives the possibility of others, such as community groups, being able to use the education centre in the evenings or at weekends.

Next to the stores and the galleries are a number of new rooms for study groups.

Curators will be able to take objects from their collections, travel the few short metres from store to study room and allow a group of 10 or 15 students around a table to view and even handle the objects.

Previously that was difficult as the museum had no suitable space near the galleries. Items had to be transported down to the lecture theatre, causing a great deal more wear-and-tear and risk of damage.

“The new facility is great for undergraduates and postgraduates who are a key part of our museum but it also means we can have smaller groups such as sixth formers, adult learners,” she said.

One important aspect of the museum’s work will be reaching out to the general public. “Our outreach programme is targeted at harder-to-reach groups who don’t normally visit.

“We go to them, make connections, build friendships and partnerships and work with them in their communities with the intent that those groups come back to visit us. We will also go to hospitals and special schools, where it is harder for children to get to us, and work with them.”

Another vital initiative, Jo said, is to encourage interest in the museum among the local community, including Oxford and the whole county of Oxfordshire.

“We are particularly committed to trying to get people who live or work within a bus ride of the museum to see it as their museum and find ways of encouraging them to visit,” she explained.

“It is a free-entry museum and a fantastic resource. But it can be tricky to encourage people who have never been here before.

“As an imposing-looking building, it is a bit daunting if it is not the sort of thing you have been used to from childhood,” she added.

That is the thinking behind the museum’s new drive to attract children in from early years, nurseries and other pre-school groups.

“There is no point in waiting until they are 12, much better to catch them when they are really young,” said Jo.

“We want to show them that museums are places that are welcoming, fun, magical and wondrous.

“When seen through the eyes of a three-year-old, they are full of sparkly things and amazing characters and stories.

“Hopefully, we can sow that seed that encourages them to visit later on in life and then keep coming back for more,”

she added.

■ An extensive programme of activities and events for visitors, including families, will take place during November and December, call 01865 278000 for more details. A what’s on guide is available from the museum, at tourist points around Oxfordshire or by registering for an e-newsletter at the website: www.ashmolean.org