Public engagement with research opportunities

We have welcomed a variety of Public Engagement with Research (PER) activities at the Museum such as film screenings, short talks, workshops and object-handling sessions that can form part of our annual events, including our late-night openings and day festivals. We also look to connect with researchers whose work may link to the themes of our temporary exhibitions, displays and programming lines, and welcome discussion to explore new activity and display ideas. 

Examples of past PER projects 

Beyond the Binary, February (January 2019 to November 2020)

Find out how Beyond the Binary set out to make diverse queer histories and experiences visible in the museum and provide a platform for LGBTQ+ voices through a collaborative approach. Read more about this project. 

A Nice Cup of Tea? (March and May 2019)

Image copyright of Fran Monks

A Nice Cup of Tea? was a collaborative project bringing together activists from our local community, university researchers and cultural organisations to mark the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the HMS Empire Windrush. Together, we are rethinking the very British ‘ritual’ of having ‘a nice cup of tea’ and using tea to explore hidden narratives around trade, colonisation and power imbalances during the British Empire and how these legacies effect people to this day.  

Oxford Open Doors (14 September 2019)

We have hosted researchers whose work links to the Museum collections to share their research with visitors through bitesize talks, object- or archive-handling sessions, film screenings, tours etc as part of the Oxford Open Doors weekend celebrating the city's heritage. Our busy, buzzing open days include PER activities delivered by Museum research staff and performances programmed by our community partners. 

Museums at Night (annual)

Every May, the Pitt Rivers Museum joins with other cultural landmarks across Europe to celebrate Museums at Night. We turn down our lights, turn up the music and co-curate pop-up performances, talks, workshops and interventions to take over the galleries and teaching spaces. Celebrating and communicating in fun ways the research taking place at the Museum and across our research community forms a key part of these events. 

Oxford's Light Festival (annual)

Often coinciding with the city’s annual Light Festival in November, the Museum opens late for audiences of all ages to explore the galleries and interact with research in interactive and accessible ways.