Later this month, Oxford City Council will discuss an updated Museum of Oxford Business Plan for 2026-2029.
The Museum of Oxford is the only museum dedicated to Oxford and tells the story of Oxford and its people through an exciting range of social history objects alongside interactive displays across two galleries.
The updated business plan sets out a vision for the Museum’s future, focussed on improving long-term financial sustainability, increasing access for Oxfordshire residents and developing new opportunity for community support, philanthropy and sponsorship.
The proposals aim to ensure that the Museum can continue to share Oxford’s stories, support learning and engagement and care for its collections for future generations.
The business plan proposes:
- Piloting free admission to the Museum of Oxford for Oxford city residents from 4 January 2027 until 31 March 2027
- Launching a Friends, Patrons and Corporate Sponsorship Scheme in the run up to Christmas 2026 to support the museum and strengthen community involvement
- Relaunching an Adopt an Object scheme in the run up to Christmas 2026 enabling residents, visitors and businesses to directly support Oxford’s heritage
- Developing a broader range of income sources to support the Museum’s long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on any single source of funding
The business plan report will be discussed by the Council's Scrutiny Committee on 13 October, followed by Cabinet on 21 October.
“The Museum of Oxford is a beloved space for many people and we want to ensure that it is able to have a financially stable future. However, we also wanted to make the Museum free for local Oxford residents as soon as we were able to do so. We think this business plan balances these two objectives. The Council is proud to provide considerable financial support for the Museum each year. We need to explore additional sources of income to secure the Museum’s future in telling the story of Oxford and its residents.
"The updated Business Plan proposes increased opportunities for residents to visit the Museum free of charge, alongside new ways for individuals, communities and businesses to support its future. By broadening the Museum's sources of funding, we can continue investing in learning, community engagement and the preservation of Oxford's heritage while maintaining the Council's commitment to supporting the Museum."
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Partnership Working, Inclusive Economic Growth and Culture
Increasing access for Oxford Residents
As part of the updated business plan, Oxford City Council is proposing to pilot free admission for all Oxford residents from 4 January 2027 until 31 March 2027.
This would be in addition to the Museum's existing programme of 12 free admission days for everyone each year, providing regular and predictable opportunities for other groups to visit the Museum free of charge – including in the school holidays.
Since the introduction of paid admission in January 2026, the Museum has generated additional income that supports its day-to-day operation. The proposal intends to strengthen access to culture, encourage repeat visitation and reinforce the Museum's role as Oxford's civic museum whilst retaining admissions income from visitors outside the city.
Funding for the pilot scheme would be paid for from the Council’s risk reserve. The Council is being recommended to approve an extension of the scheme from 1 April 2027, subject to approval through the Council's 2027/28 budget-setting process.
Friends, Patrons and Corporate Sponsorship Scheme
The business plan proposes introducing a Friends, Patrons and Corporate Sponsorship Scheme to provide opportunities for residents, visitors, businesses and philanthropic supporters to contribute to the Museum's future.
The scheme offers a range of benefits, including enhanced access opportunities, invitations to exhibitions and special events, opportunities to engage with Museum staff and collections, and recognition of support where appropriate.
Similar schemes have proven successful at museums across the country, helping to strengthen community ownership and support cultural organisations to thrive.
Relaunching the Adopt an Object programme
The business plan also proposes relaunching the Museum's Adopt an Object programme as part of its wider fundraising and supporter engagement work.
The programme will provide individuals, families and businesses with the opportunity to make a direct contribution to the care, interpretation and preservation of objects within the Museum's collection, whilst creating a stronger personal connection with Oxford's heritage.
Continuing investment in learning and community engagement
Alongside these proposals, the business plan includes continued investment in and fundraising for:
- Community co-created exhibitions
- School learning programmes
- Family activities
- Outreach projects
- Wellbeing initiatives
- Volunteering opportunities
- Digital access to collections and stories
The business plan report will be discussed by the Council's Scrutiny Committee on 13 October, followed by Cabinet on 21 October.
