Editing Ashmolean Museum (section)

===Renovations===
[[File:Ashmolean Museum Atrium Oxford 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|The museum's renovated central atrium in 2009]]
The interior of the Ashmolean has been extensively modernised during the early 21st century and now includes a restaurant and large gift shop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashmolean.org/eating/ |title=Eating and Shopping- Ashmolean Museum |publisher=Ashmolean.org |date=15 April 2012 |access-date=20 June 2012 |archive-date=16 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516095009/http://www.ashmolean.org/eating/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2000, the Chinese Picture Gallery, designed by [[van Heyningen and Haward Architects]], opened at the entrance of the Ashmolean and is partly integrated into the structure. It was inserted into a lightwell in the Grade I listed building and was designed to support future construction from its roof. Apart from the original Cockerell spaces, this gallery was the only part of the museum retained in the rebuilding. The gallery houses the Ashmolean's own collection and is also used from time to time for the display of loan exhibitions and works by contemporary Chinese artists. It is the only museum gallery in Britain devoted to Chinese paintings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vhh.co.uk/projects/ash.htm |title=Chinese Painting Gallery, Ashmolean Museum – van Heyningen and Haward Architects |publisher=Vhh.co.uk |access-date=17 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527221055/http://www.vhh.co.uk/projects/ash.htm |archive-date=27 May 2014 }}</ref>

The [[Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library]] (formerly the [[Sackler Library]]), incorporating the older library collections of the Ashmolean, opened in 2001 and has allowed an expansion of the book collection, which concentrates on classical civilization, archaeology, and art history.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Park |first=Emma |title=Ashes to Ashmolean |url=http://www.oxonianreview.org/wp/ashes-to-ashmolean/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313130946/http://www.oxonianreview.org/wp/ashes-to-ashmolean/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 March 2010 |work=Oxonian Review of Books |date=9 November 2009 |access-date=6 December 2009}}</ref>

Between 2006 and 2009, the museum was expanded to the designs of architect [[Rick Mather]] and the exhibition design company [[Metaphor (designers)|Metaphor]], supported by the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]]. The $98.2&nbsp;million<ref name="artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com">{{cite news|author=Vogel, Carol |date=20 June 2013| url= http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/director-of-ashmolean-museum-at-oxford-to-step-down/|title= Director of Ashmolean Museum at Oxford to Step Down|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> rebuilding resulted in five floors instead of three, with a doubling of the display space, as well as new conservation studios and an education centre.<ref>''The galleries are quirky and unpredictable, full of nooks and crannies and yet completely navigable even to the dyspraxically challenged, like me. That's as much to do with the layout by the exhibition designers Metaphor as with the architecture.'' {{Cite news|last=Dorment |first=Richard |title=The reopening of The Ashmolean, review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-reviews/6487538/The-reopening-of-The-Ashmolean-review.html |work=Telegraph |date=2 November 2009 |access-date=2 November 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091105231033/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-reviews/6487538/The-reopening-of-The-Ashmolean-review.html| archive-date= 5 November 2009 | url-status= live | location=London}}</ref> The renovated museum re-opened on 7 November 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ashmolean Museum opens to public |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8347299.stm |work=BBC News |date=7 November 2009 |access-date=8 November 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091108143936/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8347299.stm| archive-date= 8 November 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashmolean.org/transforming/2009/ |title=Transforming: Transformed- Ashmolean Museum |publisher=Ashmolean.org |access-date=20 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527213326/http://www.ashmolean.org/transforming/2009/ |archive-date=27 May 2014  }}</ref>

On 26 November 2011, the Ashmolean opened to the public the new galleries of [[Ancient Egypt]] and [[Nubia]]. This second phase of major redevelopment now allows the museum to exhibit objects that have been in storage for decades, more than doubling the number of coffins and mummies on display. The project received lead support from [[David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville|Lord Sainsbury's Linbury Trust]], along with the Selz Foundation, Mr. Christian Levett, as well as other trusts, foundations, and individuals. Rick Mather Architects led the redesign and display of the four previous Egypt galleries and the extension to the restored Ruskin Gallery, previously occupied by the museum shop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashmolean.org/transforming/egypt/ |title=Transforming: Egypt – Ashmolean Museum |publisher=Ashmolean.org |date=26 November 2011 |access-date=20 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018052320/http://www.ashmolean.org/transforming/egypt/ |archive-date=18 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In May 2016, the museum opened new galleries dedicated to the display of its collection of [[Victorian era|Victorian]] art.<ref name="News & Events">{{cite web|url=http://www.ashmolean.org/news/?id=375&s=Burges|title=News & Events}}</ref> This development allowed for the return to the Ashmolean of the [[Great Bookcase]], designed by [[William Burges]], and described as "the most important example of Victorian painted furniture ever made."<ref name="News & Events"/>