The Ashmolean Museum

“Licensing is very much a ‘team business’ and we feel this award recognises the teamwork that goes into The Ashmolean programme – which of course includes all the licensees and retailers who work with us,” said Start Licensing’s Ian Downes.

Start Licensing have been recognised for their work with The Ashmolean Museum with a nomination in the Sector Support Partnership category.

With the 10th anniversary of Art & Hue approaching, Odysseas Constantine tells us how he approached creating pop art pieces for an eclectic raft of brands.

Declan McCarthy, Head of Publishing & Licensing at the Ashmolean, talks us through recent partnerships in tea, coffee and ale.

“These new licensees dovetail well with some of the key objectives we have, including working with local Oxfordshire businesses and being proactive where possible around sustainability,” said Ian Downes of Start Licensing, the Ashmolean’s licensing agency.

Start Licensing’s Ian Downes looks at how Rampley & Co’s new line of Ashmolean pocket squares highlights the heritage sector’s appetite to tell their stories through trend-led collaborations.

Team Tea founder Valerie Diederichs discusses tea trends, a recent partnership with The Ashmolean Museum and the secret to a perfect brew.

“We have poured all of our 173 years of beer and brewing knowledge into creating Ashmolean Ale which we hope will help refresh and inspire minds in equal measures,” said Hook Norton’s Head Brewer and Managing Director, James Clarke.

“The opportunity to create a bespoke blend is a privilege and the aim was to capture the essence of the Museum with tea,” said Tea Team founder Valerie Diderichs.

We caught up with the Ashmolean Museum’s Declan McCarthy, Head of Publishing and Licensing, and Carrie Hickman, Publishing and Licensing Co-ordinator, to find out more about the institution’s unique brand opportunities.