Schools and teachers: art for secondary schools and colleges

The Oxford University Museum of Natural History offers a range of art focused resources and opportunities for visiting art groups. Booking is essential for all visiting groups including self-guided visits.

General and tailored sketchbook introductions
If you bring a group to draw in the Museums, you may like to be welcomed with a 'Sketchbook Introduction'. An Education Officer will meet your group, give a brief introduction to the collections and building, show examples of artwork using museum sketchbooks, and give advice about the best techniques to use. Sketchbook introductions can be tailored to your theme, and last approximately 15-20 minutes.
Find more information on our Secondary School Art groups leaflet

Popular art themes include:
Bugs - textile and print designs
Skeletons -photography, analytical drawing and 3D workshops
Mammal and reptile patterns - for graphic work
The Museum of Natural History building - for art history and architectural drawings
Natural and Mechanical forms - visit the Museums of Natural History and of the History of Science
Animal and human display - visit the Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers.

Additional resources
Digital Sketchbooks: this resource is designed to support Art and Design students in making the most of the museum research visit. The sketchbook pages are inspired by the collections and are annotated to provide students with additional information; aiming to support students when annotating their own sketchbooks.

Current Exhibitions
Visit the Museum to see our current exhibitions.

Art groups are invited to explore a commissioned art work made in conjunction with the Settlers: Genetics, Geography and the peopling of Britain exhibition. Using bright, colourful graphic design, artist Ian Kirkpatrick explores the social and natural causes behind human migration - both in ancient times and in the present day. Remixing imagery from classical paintings alongside iconography from Great War postcards, Roman coins and the Bayeux Tapestry, the artwork invites viewers to consider the ongoing factors that contribute to human movements across the globe. See our art group information sheet for more information and pass them onto your students.

For general art education enquiries, please email education@oum.ox.ac.uk