1. Introduction and context

The Museum of Oxford is currently delivering a capital and service development project, ‘Oxford’s Hidden Histories’.

The project will make objects currently in store more accessible and will explore Oxford’s intangible heritage through the memories of local people. It will enable the museum to develop as a community hub and reach new audiences, and help people actively engage in exploring the past to inform their lives today.

As part of Hidden Histories, the Museum has commissioned a purpose-built cargo tricycle to be used as a ‘mobile museum’. The Museum team will use this tricycle to take pop-up exhibitions to various locations across Oxford. Items transported on the tricycle will include a selection of the following: portable display cases containing museum objects, pull-up banners, promotional material (leaflets, posters), minirig speakers, iPad/iPod stand, donation box, stationery and arts materials.

The Museum would like to commission a local maker to design and make the portable display cases to be transported on the cargo tricycle and used to display a variety of museum objects.

2. Scope of work

As part of this work, the Museum team expects 6 display cases to be designed, produced and delivered to the Oxford Town Hall by Monday 25 March 2019.
 
3. Specification

The display cases must:
• Be lightweight but durable
• Be finished to professional standard
• Fit inside the cargo box

The contents of the cases will change in conjunction with the Museum’s programme of activities and exhibitions. The Museum therefore invites creative proposals with a flexible design, incorporating several object cases which can be displayed in a variety of ways, e.g. on the top of the cargo box or on the ground next to it. The majority of cases must have at least two see-through walls (e.g. Perspex), so that objects can be viewed from different angles.

Maximum internal dimensions of the cargo box will be 98x58x57cm. The tricycle is expected to be delivered to the Town Hall by 28 February 2019, so it will only be possible to view it after that date.

This is an innovative project with few examples of comparable nature, and is therefore a unique chance for creative makers to show off their design and technical skills. Please contact us to request image files which show how the tricycle will be used in practice.

4. Proposals submission

Please submit a proposed design and specification of your work, along with a quote inclusive of all your fees and VAT, to Marta Lomza at mlomza@oxford.gov.uk by 20 February 2019. For informal conversation about this brief, please contact Marta at the above email address or by phone at 01865 529404.