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On Friday 18 May 2012 the University of Oxford’s four Museums have joined forces to create three spectacular late night events as part of the Museums at Night 2012.

Each free event on Friday 18 May will offer a late night experience showcasing a vast array of objects, paintings, sculptures, dinosaurs, scientific instruments and specimens from across the globe. Visitors will find a relaxed atmosphere to mingle in the Museums with intriguing individuals and enthralling exhibits.

A ‘Grand Tour Passport’ will highlight key displays at the Ashmolean and then lead visitors to the Museum of History of Science, Pitt Rivers and Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

The Ashmolean: The Grand Tour
6 – 9pm

Pick up a special passport and take your own grand tour, travel the world through the Museum’s collections with family trails and tours from our adventurous curators. For children and families, drop into the Education Centre and take part in the Globe-trotters activities until 7.30pm.

See the new exhibition ‘The English Prize: The Capture Of The Westmorland, An Episode Of The Grand Tour’ after hours. Please note: exhibition tickets: £9/£7; free to under-18s and University of Oxford students.

In the atrium, listen to live orchestral music and DJ Paul Camo on the decks while enjoying the large- scale wall projections inspired by ‘The English Prize’, designed by lighting creative Kelly Budge, and photographs from the series ‘Change In Form: Metamorphosis In The Ashmolean Museum’ by artist-in-residence James Hudson.

The Ashmolean Dining Room and Rooftop Terrace will be serving fresh fruit cocktails and a tapas style menu, as well as snacks for the kids. Entry to the Ashmolean is free.

Ashmolean Late
9.30pm–1am
As part of our Grand Tour season, the Notting Hill Arts Club brings you a line-up of live music with new talent performing in the Ashmolean Vaulted Café.

Live: Aluna George
Troumaca
Decks: DJ Mim (Black Cab Sessions)
DJ Paul Camo

Tickets: £12, booking essential
Book Now: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/166500  

The Ashmolean's vaulted Cafe has played host to live performances from the likes of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, The Fixers, Kyla La Grange, Coco Sumner, Spring Offensive and many more.

The Notting Hill Arts Club has been championing Troumaca since day one. The leaders of the Birmingham new school bring their soulful, tropically-flavoured, dub-inspired brand of dance to Oxford.

AlunaGeorge is producer George Reid and singer Aluna Francis. A confident pop meeting of '90s R&B and glitchy electronica, their music has recently been mixed by the best British producers and released via Tri Angle Records.

DJ Mim of Black Cab Sessions plays classic tunes alongside the latest rock, electro, indie and leftfield pop. Black Cab Sessions have impeccable taste: you'll be in safe hands until 1am.

Follow ‘Ashmolean Late Nights’ on Twitter and Facebook.

Museum of the History of Science – The Astronomical Workshop
7-11pm
A special late-night opening of the new exhibition 'The Renaissance in Astronomy', with tours throughout the evening. The exhibition emphasises the importance of craft in 16th-century astronomy, and in this very special event there will be a printer, a globe-maker and an instrument-maker at work in the Basement Gallery. Free entry

Pitt Rivers & University Museum of Natural History – Museums in Tune
7-11pm
DJs Noel Lobley and Rupert Gill will provide an eclectic mix of music including newly digitized music from the Museums sound archive. Collaborative art inspired by the theme of trees and recycling led by Rosie Fairfax-Cholmeley and Robin Wilson artists in residence at Wytham Woods. Pitt Rivers will be brightly lit with colourful lights. Both Museum shops will be open along with a bar serving local beer, wine, soft drinks and nibbles. Free entry.