Temporary Closure of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford UK

The Ashmolean

The Ashmolean Museum and Café will temporarily close to the public after 23 December 2008 to prepare for the opening of the new museum building in November 2009. The Shop will remain open for business as usual.

To build on its strengths as a world-class museum of art and archaeology, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is undergoing a major development, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Linbury Trust. Since construction started in 2006, the development work has had a minimal impact on the existing building to ensure visitors had access to the collections on display. However, in 2009 builders will need increased access to the existing building to undertake the major work of constructing a new front entrance and creating breakthrough points between the new and old building. The Museum’s closure is necessary for the safety of visitors, the collections, and staff, while the final phase of development is being completed. . . .

There will be no public access to the Museum and the Café following 23 December 2008 until the launch of the new Ashmolean in the late autumn of 2009.