If you thought Oxford was just about elegant spires and world-class academia then think again! Oxford Castle Unlocked reveals Oxford’s less well known history, one that is rich with tales of great escapes, betrayal and even romance - all within the walls of the ancient castle and prison.

Until March 2012: Kabuki, Japan’s popular theatre, has captivated audiences since the early 1600s, and brilliantly coloured woodblock prints of famous actors in their elaborate costumes and make-up have been sold to enthusiastic fans for most of its history. This exhibition of actor prints from the Ashmolean’s collection includes traditional depictions of kabuki actors by late 19th-century artists Kunisada and Kunichika, and recently-acquired works by contemporary printmaker Tsuruya Kōkei.

Until Sunday 8th January 2012: The Ashmolean’s major exhibition this autumn will be Claude Lorraine: The Enchanted Landscape rediscovering the father of European landscape painting, Claude Gellée (c.1600–1682), or Claude Lorrain as he is best known.

In partnership with the Städel Museum, Frankfurt, the exhibition will bring together 140 works from international collections, created at different points in the artist’s career. By uniting ‘pairs’ of Claude’s paintings and making a comprehensive survey of his work in different media, the exhibition brings new research to bear on his working methods, to reveal an unconventional side to Claude which has previously been little known.

Monday 19th March to Sunday 20th May: To celebrate the London Olympics 2012, the Ashmolean will display a group of bronze sculptures from Art At The Edge, a commissioned series of sculptural studies, representing different Olympic and Paralympic sports. Each sculpture is cast in bronze and made by a different artist to reflect the cross-section of contemporary British sculpture. The works will be placed in the Ashmolean’s Human Image Gallery, amongst the Museum’s permanent collections. Admission: Free

Monday 9th January - Sunday 8th April: This exhibition shows how very ‘ordinary’ albums from the colonial period can provide a unique insight into the colonial experience. Colonial albums are common, owned by many families who were involved in colonial activities, such as administration, missions, engineering, medical work or teaching. They are now recognised as important historical documents, and yet they are rarely seen.

Until Sunday 27th January 2013:Indian silk textiles, a solar-powered prayer wheel, Maasai jewellery, a brick made of tea, parrot feather ornaments, moccasins with red 'Stroud' cloth, lustrous glass beads from Venice… from local markets to global networks this exhibition offers insights into the world of trade through the Museum's remarkable collections.

It will also feature a contemporary coffin built for a shop owner alongside a documentary highlighting the trend for themed coffins in Ghana that relate to the deceased's trade or pastime.

The exhibition forms part of a five-year project involving ten major European ethnography museums, entitled "Ethnography Museums and World Cultures - RIME". The project is funded with support from the European Commission.