Modern Art Oxford is reopening on 2 October. In the meantime, the team is busy preparing the space in readiness for its new autumn exhibition, by Mariana Castillo Deball, Between making and knowing something.
Through a collage-like installation featuring pottery, photography and textiles, Mexican-born artist Mariana Castillo Deball works to uncover stories and individuals often hidden in traditional museum displays.
Deball’s exhibition focuses on sharing the stories of a number of little-known female anthropologists and indigenous storytellers and makers. To do this, the artist recreates historical artefacts and reconfigures display cases to expose how museum collections both conceal and reveal historical narratives and shape our understanding of the world.
Between making and knowing something is born out of Deball’s ongoing research into museums, the observational science of people and cultures (or ethnography), archaeology and photographic archives. The exhibition particularly explores objects and archives held in the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford and the Smithsonian Museum National Collections in Washington D.C.
The gallery team has been working really hard behind the scenes to ensure all visitors are met with a warm welcome and have a safe and rewarding experience at the gallery.
To ensure the wellbeing of all staff and to ensure visitors have a safe and rewarding experience, Modern Art Oxford has put a number of additional measures in place. Watch the video or read full details below.
Entry by advanced online booking only
The team have set up 30 minute arrival slots throughout each day. People need to book a ticket for each member of a party for an available slot. Visitors must arrive in time for their allocated slot but are welcome to stay as long as they like, or until the gallery closes at 4pm.
Opening hours
The gallery will now be open Tuesday – Sunday 11am – 4pm (closed on Mondays).
One-way system
Please enter the gallery via the Pembroke St entrance and exit via St Ebbe’s Street in accordance with the new one-way system.
Face coverings
Please wear a face covering in the gallery for the safety of other visitors and staff.
Social distancing
Visitor numbers to the gallery will be limited so that you can maintain social distancing during your visit.
Hand washing
Additional hand-sanitising and washing stations have been placed throughout the building and visitors will be encouraged to use them regularly.
Lifts
The lift will be open for visitors who are unable to use the stairs to the galleries and the Basement toilets. Only one person or group will be able to use it at a time. The lift will be cleaned regularly throughout the day.
Toilets
The basement toilets will be open and cleaned regularly but the ground floor toilets will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Shop
The shop will be open, but only accessible to visitors with a pre-booked admission ticket to the gallery. You are encouraged not to handle merchandise that youu do not intend to buy. All payments will now be done by contactless payment.
Café
The café will remain closed until further notice.
