Celebrating the New Ashmolean
To celebrate the Ashmolean’s new building the Museum held a series of receptions in the lead-up to the public opening.
28 October – Press Launch
On 28 October the Ashmolean held preview tours and a press conference which was attended by members of the local, national and international media. A total of 105 journalists came to the event, including BBC Oxford and local radio; a film crew from Channel 4 News; and foreign correspondents from as far a field as Russia, Israel and Japan. 54 journalists travelled to Oxford from London as guests on the British Pullman train and an Oxford Bus Company bus which brought them to the Ashmolean. The Museum is extremely grateful to the Orient Express and the Oxford Bus Company for their generous support of the press launch.
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30 October – Reception
On the evening of 30 October the Ashmolean hosted a spectacular reception for special guests from around the world. Acclaimed local author Philip Pullman CBE and Carol Souter, Director of the Heritage Lottery Fund spoke at the reception and guests were treated to beautiful dance performances by Anuradha Chaturvedi, Dhol drumming by Matthew Shama of Young Steps and Cecilia Macfarlane’s Oxford Youth Dance Company and Oxford Youth Dance.
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4 November – Reception sponsored by Amey
On 4 November the Museum held a VIP reception for members of the local community, Ashmolean supporters and guests from the two Universities. The historian Bettany Hughes and Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, spoke at the event and the renowned Japanese drummers Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers gave an electrifying performance in the new Museum atrium. Guests also enjoyed the Ashmolean’s inaugural Tea Ceremony in the Japanese Tea House. The Museum is extremely grateful to Amey for its generous support of the evening.
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