The Pitt Rivers Museum is a fantastic resource for exploring creativity in all its forms. This page comprehensively covers everything you need to be inspired in the museum, whether a self-guided or taught session.
Remember, booking is essential for all group visits - visit our booking page to arrange a visit with your group.
Learn how contemporary artists explore concepts of ‘identity’ and ‘coloniality’ and engage with self-representation through finding LGBTQIA+ histories within the museum’s displays.
This is an extended version of our popular Sketchbook Introduction that supports students in their sketching or photography and allows them to engage with handling objects.
Art materials and photography in the Museum
You may bring:
graphite pencils
coloured pencils
fine-line pens
biros
collage materials, such as tissue paper, fabric and string - if you decide to do a collage in the Museum, please take additional care not to leave any mess behind.
scissors
water-based glue sticks
staplers
boards without clips
Please do not bring the following materials as they are not allowed in the museum galleries:
wet materials (e.g. paint and liquid glue)
charcoal
pastels
Photography
You are welcome to take photographs in the galleries for personal and educational use.
Camera tripods are not allowed in the Museum.
Download our guide looking at a range of materials and techniques that can be used in the Museum to explore the varied and exciting ways of recording through drawing and making.
Download our guide on the ways in which sketchbooks can be used as a creative diary recording thoughts, feelings, and ideas generated during a museum visit.
This PDF showcases some of the many artists who have been inspired by Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum. Some displayed their work in the Museum, some chose to display their work elsewhere, and some intervened with the museum space itself.
View a selection of sketchbook pages below, inspired by objects on display in the Pitt Rivers Museum.
On some of these pages the artist has created views of the museum, drawing the display cases and capturing the atmosphere of the place. On other pages, the artist has focused on select items they have observed during their visit, drawing objects in their own curated compositions on the page.
