Visiting the Ashmolean during the Redevelopment (2007 – 2009)
The Ashmolean remains open to the public throughout the redevelopment
The Ashmolean's major redevelopment to build on its strengths as a world-class museum is well underway. Leading architect Rick Mather has created a design to transform the Ashmolean into a museum for a 21st century public. The plan involves building 39 new galleries, an education centre, conservation studios, and a walkthrough between the Museum and the Cast Gallery.
Visitors to the Museum can see most of the Western Art galleries and the Print Room, the Egyptian galleries, as well as enjoying the Shop and the Café.
As part of the development, the collections of Antiquities, Eastern Art and Coins have gone into storage and the galleries which housed them have now been demolished and the Cast Gallery has closed. Over two hundred highlights of these collections can be seen on display in the Treasures exhibition.
In preparation for the opening of the new galleries a temporary prototype has been constructed in the Randolph Sculpture Gallery until 2008. The display, based on the theme of Arthur Evans and the discovery of the Palace of Knossos, tests the new showcases and designs by Metaphor for the new galleries. Featuring material excavated by Evans during his excavations at Knossos, the display includes an oversized gypsum alabastron, found in what Evans called the "Throne Room" of the palace, and two of the important Linear B clay tablets that were located in the palace storerooms.
Due to the building work we regret that some of the objects and paintings will be taken temporarily off display throughout the development to ensure their protection.
For more information about the open galleries please follow this link to the Ashmolean floorplan.
Western Art Galleries: Refurbishment and Redisplay
In conjunction with the Ashmolean's redevelopment, the Western Art galleries are undergoing a programme of refurbishment. The following galleries are disrupted:
Galleries 44-46: Empty of works from 2 June until early 2009. It will be possible to view many of the works from these galleries in the new second floor displays. However the Impressionists are currently off display until Spring 2009 due to the touring exhibition: Camille Pissarro: Family and Friends: Masterworks from the Ashmolean Museum in Japan.
Gallery 47: The Daisy Linda Ward collection will be closed to the public on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 June due to the construction of a tunnel to allow necessary works in Galleries 44, 45 and 46. There will be no access to the galleries beyond Gallery 48 between Monday 2 and Wednesday 4 June inclusive.
Gallery 52 - 53: Disrupted from the end of April until 1 August 2008 although access to the Treasures exhibition and other Western Art galleries will be maintained.
For further information on planning your visit please contact the Museum's Information Desk on 01865 288016.