Visitor guidelines

Tables & chairs 

Our ground floor is free and open to anyone. But, as an academic teaching facility, it can get very busy at certain points in the day, like lunchtime and early evening. Please notice those around you and make space for each other, sharing tables when needed. 

If you’re here for a performance, lecture, or grabbing a bite and seats are hard to come by, please ask a member of our team. We’ll do our best to find you one.

Bag searching

For the safety of all our visitors, security may ask to search your bag when you arrive. If you refuse, we won’t be able to admit you. These searches look for restricted items, like objects that might be considered a risk to the safety and enjoyment of our visitors, or break any of our policies. 

Any restricted items found will be removed and returned when you leave – though if we find anything illegal, the police require us to confiscate the item and contact them. 

Personal property 

No one wants to misplace something or have a stray bag cause a scene. Please keep your personal belongings with you. Security will be called to unattended items, and they may be removed. 

For performances, bags larger than a standard handbag or small rucksack (30 x 30 x 15cm) must be stored in our free cloakrooms before heading for your seat. Sorry, no folding bikes. 

Cloakrooms are only open for performances, 60 minutes before the start time. We can’t help with your bags before then. 

Your visit 

Let’s make everyone’s visit the experience it should be. To keep things safe and enjoyable, we politely ask you not to: 

• Smoke anywhere inside our building or auditoriums (including e-cigarettes or other products that produce vapour or smoke). 
• Bring or consume alcohol not bought at the Schwarzman Centre. 
• Make excessive noise that might disturb others. 
• Fundraise, demonstrate or distribute/display campaigning material, without prior permission. Items for use in fundraising, campaigns or demonstrations (like posters and banners) can’t be brought into the Schwarzman Centre. 
• Hold formally organised or publicly advertised events without prior permission. 
• Ride bikes, scooters or anything on wheels (except mobility aids). 
• Run in our spaces. 
• Sleep in our spaces. 
• Use furniture for anything other than what it’s meant for, or move it around the building. 
• Sit or leave belongings on the floor, or spread out across the space. 
• Bring non-service animals. 
• Leave rubbish around the building. There are waste and recycling bins available throughout. 
• Use extension leads and cables; these can be a trip hazard. 
• Use pigment (paint, oil, watercolour, nail varnish etc) for art projects or other activities; these might damage carpets, furniture, and walls. 
• If our staff think you’re disrupting other visitors, breaking our policies, or endangering yourself, others, or our property and spaces, they’ll ask you to stop. Our security team has the authority to escort customers away from the building if needed. 
• We won’t tolerate abuse, harassment, or violence towards any visitor, contractor, or member of staff. 
• If you see anything you think might be suspicious, let our staff know, and they’ll take it from there. 

Photography 

For private, non-commercial use, visitors can use hand-held cameras in and outside the Schwarzman Centre, but must not: 

• Use cameras in any areas where video or photography is restricted (which is clearly signed) and never inside the auditoriums, without prior permission. 
• Record or photograph anyone without their permission. 

Non-private or commercial use of cameras and recording devices, and the use of tripods or lighting, is only allowed with prior permission. Want to film or take photos at the Schwarzman Centre for commercial use? We’d love to help. Please note, this needs to be agreed at least five working days ahead of time. 

Students and academics can also arrange on-site photography. Crews of up to four people can shoot for up to one hour. 

For all film and photography arrangements, get in touch with us at info@schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk. 

We’ll always let visitors know if filming or photography is happening in the Schwarzman Centre, either in person or with clear signposting.