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The Pitt Rivers Museum is Oxford University’s Museum of Anthropology and World Archaeology. The collection, housed in a Grade I-listed building, includes approximately 280,000 ethnographic and archaeological artefacts, 150,000 historical photographs and 60 collections of manuscripts, many of which are displayed in their original cases. The Museum shared the Guardian Family Friendly Museum Award in 2005 with the adjoining Museum of Natural History. 

This project has helped the Museum to improve physical and intellectual access to the building and its collection. The visitor experience was compromised by an obstructed entrance and restricted access, with limited opportunity for visitor orientation on arrival. Opportunities to expand popular education activities were hampered by the lack of a formal education space. The Museum now benefits from a remodelled entrance, with a platform lift for improved access, new and renovated display cases and a dedicated education space, the Clore Learning Gallery.

• To create a purpose built education space to accommodate and expand the Museum’s educational activities and events
• To provide level access to the Museum from the Museum of Natural History and to create an area for visitor welcome and orientation
• To restore the original entrance to the Museum by removing the 1960s Temporary Exhibition Gallery
• To improve environmental conditions to help care for the collections

• Over 5000 objects have been removed, condition-checked and returned to display in renovated and new display cases.
• The Museum has commissioned and installed an environmental control kit to provide improved environmental conditions for the exhibits.
• The removal of the Temporary Exhibition Gallery and remodelling has created an entrance that is now in keeping with the historic significance of the Grade I building and restored the original panorama of the Museum’s display cases.
• The installation of new cases and relocation of cases from the Lower Gallery has increased the number of artefacts on public display, including three new cases on Australian Aboriginal art.

• Physical access to the Museum has been improved through the installation of a platform lift, helping to make the collections accessible to all.
• The Museum now benefits from a purpose built education space, designed to accommodate a range of users and educational activities.
• The Museum is now able to offer increased opportunities for volunteers.
• An information desk and orientation point has been created in the new entrance where visitors are able to borrow audio guides, maps and pick up information sheets to help them to access the Museum’s collections independently.

• Make full use of your assigned HLF case officer – the project team found theirs to be both a friendly critic and a critical friend.
• It is important not to underestimate the amount of time needed to prepare an application that is worthy of the project.
• The project team found it an advantage to have use of a known and sympathetic architectural practice. If you don't already have one and your project requires one, try to seek one out.
• Part of the value of the outcome can be the application process itself. Use it to formalise existing informal relationships, harness supporters and consult widely to refine and strengthen the project.

• The Clore Learning Gallery will provide long-term educational opportunities for visitors and groups and has already proven to be a popular resource for school groups.
• The restoration of the entrance has helped to distinguish the Pitt Rivers Museum from the adjacent Museum of Natural History and to draw visitors inside, thereby increasing the long-term sustainability of the museum. In the first complete month after re-opening, the Museum received almost double the number of visitors, attracting over 40,000 people in May 2009.

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