As Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum gears up for its 15th Live Friday event, Stuart Macbeth discovers the weird and wonderful attractions that will explore what makes societies tick

Killer robots, geographical flash mobs, prehistoric music and the chance to meet a Mongolian camel.

They’re among the attractions at Social Animals, the 15th Live Friday event which takes place at the Ashmolean Museum tomorrow.

“There’s an exciting, forbidden feeling to entering the museum after dark,“ says the museum’s public engagements assistant Lucie Dawkins, who has had the task of programming the evening.

“The aim of Live Fridays is to make everyone feel at home. Social Animals will explore what makes people and societies tick. We’ll have live performances and plenty of workshops in the galleries.

“Visitors will be able to see what happens behind the scenes at Oxford University, and actually take part in world-leading research.”

More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the free event which is open to all, showcasing cutting edge research from Oxford University’s Social Sciences Division.

“Social Sciences explore what makes societies work,“ Lucie explains. “They include geography, archaeology, anthropology, business studies, economics, internet studies and many more.”

Attractions will include a ‘Mass Experiment in Voting Behaviour’ and a ‘Victorian Tag-a-Thon’ where visitors will be invited to add tags to any images they can identify from the museum’s newly-digitised archive of slides.

Families are especially welcome: “There’s a chance to ‘Choose Your Own Ashmolean Adventure’ and find mystery objects around the museum.

“You can also enjoy Senegalese dance, or visit our tearoom to taste teas from China, Japan and Mongolia and learn more about tea drinking ceremonies in those countries,” Lucie adds.

For those wishing to make a big night of it, the museum café will also be serving beers and wine until late.

Social Animals is one of several Museums at Nights events running across the county on Friday.

“It’s fantastic to see all the museums open at night.

“We are one of several University museums in Oxford which are participating, including the Natural History Museum, Pitt Rivers and the Museum of the History of Science.

“It’s great to be able to offer so many open doors into Oxford University on one night,“ Lucie says.

Social Animals runs until 10.30pm, after which the museum staff have the unenviable task of clearing up.

“The front-of-house staff are brilliant,“ Lucie laughs.

“They have got clearing up after Live Fridays down to a near-military operation by now, transforming the galleries back to their normal state within about an hour of everyone leaving.”

Since the first Live Friday in January 2013 Lucie estimates that the events have attracted more than 55,000 people to the museum.

“We hope that everyone who comes to Social Animals will discover new things in our collections, and get excited about playing a part in trailblazing research into what makes human societies work.”

Whatever you enjoy, whether listening to music, watching performances, having a go, or if you just want to have a wander through an amazing building at night, Social Animals has it all – for free.

SEE IT
Live Friday: Social Animals takes place tomorrow 7-10.30pm at the Ashmolean Museum in Beaumont Street, Oxford
See ashmolean.org/livefriday