Stories feed children's minds and hearts; they contribute to their development and well being. The Story Museum will be a world centre for story and storytelling. Its vision is to create a story-rich society, in which children enjoy sharing and learning through stories and storytelling in many forms. We aim to inspire and educate through:

• Persuasion: convincing adults how vital stories are for children's development
• Example: showing 1001 inspiring ways to learn, through stories
• Support: sharing the skills and resources to make this possible

A very special new museum

• World leader: The Story Museum will be an international centre that explores all aspects of children's story.
• Centre of excellence: The Museum will be a powerful and permanent symbol of the importance of children's story and a celebration of Britain's unique contribution to world literature, in a city famous for its stories and scholarliness.
• Unforgettable experience: The Story Museum will provide a high impact family experience. Oxford may have high walls and closed doorways but the Museum will be open and accessible to all ages, offering a colourful, ever-changing celebration of story in all its forms. The design of the building itself will reflect this, as well as the Museum's innovative and exciting mix of performance, exhibitions and activities.
• A beacon for research and learning: The Museum aims to be a national and international focus for organisations and individuals.
• Special collections: The Museum will be home to special story-related items and unique collections, which will be stored and displayed.

A glimpse of things to come...

There are 1001 ways of experiencing stories and The Story Museum aims to provide visitors young and old with a whole range of narrative adventures, designed to stimulate all the senses. Not only will they listen to stories, they will walk through them, create stories of their own and, literally, be able to open windows and go through doorways into other worlds. The Museum's wish list includes galleries and exhibition spaces, as well as trails and dens, together with a theatre, café and shop.

Starting with the history of the building itself, the story of the Museum is now starting to unfold: there will be many exciting surprises along the way.