news

tours of the Story Museum

Come and visit us. See plans and progress as we move ahead on our redevelopment programme. Latest dates: Thursday 23 February 5pm; Thursday 5 April 4pm. No need to book, just turn up.

Earl of Wessex visits Story Museum

HRH The Earl of Wessex visited The Story Museum on January 11 to add his support to our fund raising programme. He toured the building and was joined by local dignitaries to hear children from Pegasus and St Ebbes primary schools tell stories. More info. Picture gallery.

'Fabrications' book now on sale

Oxford Brookes architectural students' fabrications (see below) have been produced in a book, which documents their collaborative project. Buy a copy, price £10.56 (special December offer). News release.

architectural students' design dazzlers

Seventy four first year architectural students from Oxford Brookes University created designs for flexible furniture that we could use at The Story Museum. Their results were imaginative, original, witty and many of them struck a chord with our thinking. Can't wait for them to qualify..   Read Oxford Mail story. Read students' blog.

Bodleian press launch

The launch of the Bodleian Hand Printing Workshop at The Story Museum was celebrated with printers' hats and hand printed mementoes - as more than 50 University and Story Museum friends and colleagues raised a festive glass to Johannes Gutenberg on December 7. Look out for workshops and courses.

Christmas Light Night

More than 400 people joined us in The Story Museum courtyard for songs and storytelling around the Christmas Tree on December 2. Thanks to storyteller Katy Cawkwell, St Ebbe's School choir and Oxford Harmony who made the evening special. And thanks also to our band of volunteers - and Shaun Bradford, who donated our tree and lights. More.

storytelling for secondary school pupils

A great bunch of Y7 students from Oxford Academy descended on us for a storytelling experience based around 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. More than 150 of them also gave us their wishes for the new Story Museum. We are supported on this secondary school project - which also includes Cheney School early next year - by The Princes' Foundation.

visit from Tony Ross

The awardwinning author and illustrator (of Horrid Henry fame) paid us a visit recently. Here's what he said: "' I looked around the Story Museum, it is only just starting. It was empty of exhibits, but packed full of ideas and ambition. It is already an exciting and important piece, in the jigsaw of books and readers."

IBBY International Congress 2012

Registration is now open for this exciting international conference on children's literature, Crossing boundaries: translations and migrations, to be held at Imperial College 23 - 26 August 2012. The Story Museum will be one of the visits on offer. More info.

short story competition

The Diamond Light Source, the UK's synchroton facility in Oxfordshire, is running a short story competition, Light Reading. There is a cash prize and the chance to be published in an anthology. Closing date is Wednesday November 30. More info

an Anglo Saxon compliment

This is what author Kevin Crossley-Holland wrote in our visitors' book when he came to see us recently:  'Ic wundor geseah' says an Anglo Saxon poet. I saw a wonder. And here, in Oxford, is a very great wonder-in-the-making, the Story Museum. It's built of bricks and glass and time (and money) and energy and intention and dream. No one can step in here - into the place - without being somehow changed by it, and without adding to its story.

hot off the press

The Bodleian Library's historic printing presses have found a new home at The Story Museum. . Look out for family printing workshops, coming soon.

discovered - a very important Pea

Have you seen our new window? Author and illustrator Mini Grey is delighted to report that the historic Pea, vital for the selection of Royal Brides-to-be, has turned up in the late Queen Mother's third best handbag - and is now on display in a specially created window here at The Story Museum. More info.

Christmas Light Night

Drop in and see us during Oxford's festive evening event on Friday December 2 when museums and galleries celebrate the arrival of the Christmas season with processions, lights, dance, art, music and performance. Listen to storyteller Katy Cawkwell tell tales of the woman who married the moon and the man who followed a star.

Korky Paul limited edition giclée prints

Winnie the Witch author Korky Paul has created a beautiful (and exclusive) print of how The Story Museum might look. The limited edition - there are just 150 copies - costs £250 plus package and posting) and comes signed and framed. Place an order.

architects appointed

Architects Purcell, Miller, Tritton have been appointed to head the design team who will be working with us on the transformation of our dilapidated buildings here at Rochester House. More info.

Settle Storytelling Festival

Cosy bedtime storytelling, fireside tales of derring do, spine-chilling ghost stories through to performances from Japan, India and Africa. The event also features exciting, ambitious and experimental storytelling pieces using a mix of spoken word, music and multimedia. Storytelling laureate Taffy Thomas MBE and Hugh Lupton are just two of a line-up of top storytellers. Thursday 6 October to Sunday 9 October. www.settlestories.org.uk

follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Get updates, quirky or otherwise, in just 140 characters. We are now all of a flutter on Twitter . And we also invite you to join us on Facebook.

author visits

We love showing people round our building - and we've seen an array of authors and illustrators keen to see inside and - even better, become involved. Recent visitors have included a group from Writers in Oxford, and Roger Dean, best known for his iconic posters and album covers for musicians such as Yes.

Maggie's Day

A special literary day for children has been set up to celebrate the life of Maggie Evans, a young literary agent who died in November 2008. The first Maggie's Day was held with our resident artist Ted Dewan, Maggie's parents Bob and Kati Evans and children from three local primary schools.

Alice's Day 2012

Put the date in your diary now! Saturday/Sunday July 7/8 is the weekend we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first telling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Expect more exciting events than ever in this very special year. Watch this space...View previous years

did you spot our dinosaur?

We are now the proud owner of one life-size animatronic dinosaur, kindly donated by Oxford University's Museum of Natural History. "Not Nessie" (who is actually a plesiosaur and a distant relative of the mythical Loch Ness monster) was wheeled through Oxford City Centre to her new home by children and volunteers. She now resides in our unrenovated top gallery where we hope she will inspire children to create their own myths.

Oxford bids for UNESCO World Book Capital

Since 2001, UNESCO has nominated a World Book Capital City to acknowledge the best year-long programme proposed by a city to promote books and foster reading. Oxford has formally launched a bid to become the Capital in 2014 and the Story Museum is a key player. More info.

mysterious shop window revealed at Rochester House

If you're passing by our home in Rochester House (we've moved into offices there while plans for the Story Museum continue to take shape), you may notice a rather unusual shop window. Do take a closer look. Our discovery, made at the beginning of the year, revealed a household goods store catering to the world's fictional community. Intrigued? To see what our resident artist Ted Dewan discovered, to his immense surprise, click here. You might like to spot how many products you can match to their potential purchaser.

setting the scene

As an empty space, Rochester House is highly atmospheric, which is why we’ve put it on Oxford’s film location database. We've already had some enquiries. We think it would make a great backdrop for a crime scene or rock video - any takers?

the first of 1001 stories

Visit our newly-launched 1001 stories section and fly your imagination around the world with inspirational stories to watch, hear, read and tell. More info.