We have run a programme of knowledge sharing events for museums and the cultural sector since 2012 - see our list of previous events here. Ranging in format from large conferences to small group workshops, all our events are aimed at professionals working in the sector, particularly decision makers and leaders.
See our calendar of upcoming events
Our events fall under a number of key themes:
Oxford Cultural Leaders Series
New events focussed on leadership, spun out from our residential leadership programme in partnership with the Said Business School. Planned events for 2016-2018 will include enabling innovation, entrepreneurial approaches to working and strategic planning. See previous events in this category.
Access and Participation
Understanding and engaging audiences, widening participation and enabling access. Planned events for 2016-2018 will look at Ethnographic Observation of the visitor experience and accessibility for disability. See previous events in this category.
Commercial Enterprise
Shops, cafes and venue hire, leveraging your assets to generate income. Planned events for 2016-2018 will look at making the most of your venue, cafes and catering, product development, shop management and licensing and commercial partnership. See previous events in this category.
Communication and Marketing
Communicating your offer, attracting international audiences and with stakeholders. Planned events for 2016-2018 will look at enticing international tourists and evaluating marketing materials. See previous events in this category.
Digital Engagement
Utilising digital engagement to enhance the visitor experience and engage audiences. Planned events for 2016-2018 include conferences on digital tools for learning and digital products for museum visitors. See previous events in this category.
Fundraising and Philanthropy
Leveraging reputation and activity to diversify income streams. Planned events for 2016-2018 include workshops on Trusts and Foundations, Legacy Giving and Major Gifts, plus conferences on the future of fundraising in museums. See previous events in this category.
Conferences
One day events in a variety of aspects of museum work from conservation to working with artists.Planned events for 2016-2018 include a workshop on working with artists with Turner Prize winner Elizabeth Price and supporting the annual Jodi awards. See previous events in this category.
Check out summaries of our previous events from our blog below and on our Event Summaries page.
The Long View - Futures Thinking for Museums
In February 2016 we hosted the second in our Oxford Cultural Leaders events series - a number of day long workshops developed out of our learning from creating and delivering our residential leadership programme, Oxford Cultural Leaders, and from our partnership with the Saïd Business School. |
Commercial Enterprise: What's In Store?
On 22 January 2016 over 25 delegates from around the UK gathered at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford for the latest in the Oxford University Museums Partnership’s Commercial Enterprise series of events: What’s In Store?. The day looked at how museum shops can create a unique identity which is commercially viable and supportive of their organisation’s culture and philosophy through a range of presentations and discussion. |
The Entrepreneurial Museum
Museums are not-for-profit, mission led organisations whose primary purposes include the preservation of our culture, expanding understanding of our world and inspiring our youth. However, as traditional state-funding models become insufficient to sustain the sector, museums must re-invent themselves as businesses, raising income to support their core mission. Our sector needs to develop a generation of cultural entrepreneurs – people who in the face of diminishing resources are prepared to pursue other opportunities in order for their museums to grow and flourish. |
In Gallery Engagement - Digital vs Analogue
On 22nd July 2015 we welcomed over 100 delegates from across the UK to the Museum of Natural History in Oxford for a one day conference dedicated to in-gallery engagement techniques. With the increasing focus on mobile apps and digital interactives, we wanted to get to the bottom of what makes a good gallery interactive, digital or ‘analogue’, what engages audiences and leaves them excited about the collections, rather than the medium of delivery. Session One – Tactile Engagement |
Good Enough to Eat
On 28 January 2015, 40 delegates from around the UK gathered at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford for the latest in the Oxford ASPIRE: Commercial Enterprise events series: Good Enough to Eat. The day of case studies and discussion looked at how museums and other arts and cultural venues can make money out of food and drink, in a way that enhances their visitor experience and contributes to their organisation’s overall mission, as well as their bottom line. |
Membership Schemes & Corporate Giving
On Monday 24 September 40 delegates from around the country came to Oxford for an ASPIRE knowledge exchange event exploring Friends and Patrons programmes as well as Corporate relationships. Friends and Patrons at the Ashmolean |