Uncomfortable Oxford has partnered with the Museum of Oxford to help mark the museum’s 50th anniversary

Uncomfortable Oxford has partnered with the Museum of Oxford to help mark the museum’s 50th anniversary. As part of the collaboration, we were invited to curate new interpretive labels for two permanent collection cases: Policing Oxford and Journeys to Oxford. 

Staying true to our approach, each label concludes with open-ended questions that encourage visitors to reflect on how historical narratives continue to shape our present. Policing Oxford centres on how the University once policed women on the city's streets, inviting visitors to consider how forms of female oppression from the past still influence society today. Journey to Oxford, on the other hand, traces early modern transnational connections through the history of café culture in the city, asking visitors to reflect on the surprisingly complex histories behind other everyday foods and drinks. 

Alongside these cases, our Uncomfortable Oxford map—designed by local artist Kati Lacey—is on display in the museum’s temporary exhibition. This playful reimagining of Oxford’s city centre prompts viewers to consider the power dynamics embedded in familiar spaces.