The Story Museum

The Story Museum is a museum in Oxford, England. It aims to encourage education and support community engagement by exploring all forms of stories. It is a registered charity under English law.

Highlights include a Whispering Wood, an Enchanted Library and Small Worlds, a dedicated space for younger children as well as a 100-seat theatre, a learning studio and a temporary exhibition space. In addition to welcoming public visitors and school groups to its Galleries, the Museum also delivers an extensive public programme, including skills courses, workshops, drop-in activities and access visits for those wanting to enjoy the Museum in a more relaxed way, alongside a programme of funded community and school participation projects with targeted groups. The Museum attracts up to 100,000 visitors a year.

History

The museum was founded in 2003 and initially operated as a virtual museum with no premises of its own.

In November 2009, it was announced that the museum would move to premises at Rochester House in Pembroke Street, following a gift of £2.5m from a private donor. The museum closed for a major £6 million redevelopment on 7 July 2018, with funding including a £1 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2015, and a £2 million grant from Arts Council England. The renovation was completed in 2020.