The Pitt Rivers Museum re-opened to the public on 1st May following the extensive refurbishment project designed by Pringle Richards Sharratt. The project was received numerous reviews in the national press.

In July 2008 the Pitt Rivers Museum started the second phase of its development plan, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous donors, to improve its public and education facilities. This entailed closing the displays to the public for ten months. On 1st May 2009 the Museum was re-opened by Sir David Attenborough and Michael Palin, followed by a weekend of celebrations.

During the previous ten months, while the building work took place and the Museum was closed, a variety of important display-related tasks were accomplished including the installation of new pillars and cases, suspending the outrigger canoe from the roof, the removal, assessment, storage and redisplay of over 5000 objects, the installation of 8 new cases and displays, additional lighting and signs and a thorough cleaning throughout. 

The Heritage Lottery Fund has made a generous award of £1 million towards the estimated £1.5 million costs of the project. Other private benefactors included the Clore Duffield Foundation and the DCMS/Wolfson Foundation’s Museum and Galleries Improvement Fund.