Since 2012, we’ve undertaken projects of all shapes and sizes. To deliver this program, we’ve collaborated with a huge variety of organisations – from the University, local area and further afield. Find out more about our past ventures here: 

Annual Reviews
Giving an overview of our work in each year, you can read our annual reviews online.
2021-2022 Year in Numbers
2020-2021 A year like no other
2018-2019 Highlights

Operation Survival and Cambridge Codebreakers: The Last Secret
We partnered with Fire Hazard Games to deliver two high-octane digital adventure games across a number of our museums. Imagine head-scratching puzzles and a madcap rush between venues (not in the galleries!). Find out more on our Collections in Action blog:
Operation Survival
Cambridge Codebreakers: turning museum visitors into players
Cambridge Codebreakers: developing a codebreaking adventure across four museums
2017-2019

India Unboxed
To mark the UK-India Year of Culture 2017, we celebrated a shared season on the theme of India - a programme of exhibitions, events, digital encounters, discussions, installations and more within the museums and the city of Cambridge.
Rooted in our collections, the programme explored themes of identity and connectivity for audiences in both the UK and India, with support from Arts Council England. Read the India Unboxed Evaluation Report
2017-18

The Museum as Method
This conference, run in collaboration with the University's Centre for Research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CRASSH), brought together scholars from disciplines interested in material culture and curators from across the arts and sciences, to reflect on both questions of methodology and public policy.
2016 

Curating Cambridge
Curating Cambridge: our city, our stories, our stuff was a collaborative arts and cultural season which took place over October and November 2014. Read the Curating Cambridge Evaluation Report
2014

Artist in Residence, North West Cambridge Development
The Artist in Residence programme at the North West Cambridge Development ran throughout the development of the site, with three artists being appointed each year. 
2014-2016

Discoveries: Art, Science and Exploration
In 2014, Discoveries, the first major show to bring together the fascinating collections from all eight University of Cambridge Museums, took place at London's Two Temple Place and the Fitzwilliam Museum.
2014

House Guests
From March to July 2013 specimens, objects and artworks from the University of Cambridge Museums and collections took up residence at Kettle's Yard. The 'guests', from butterflies to Inuit carving, invited visitors to see Kettle's Yard in a new light and to discover more about the University of Cambridge Museums.
2013

Thresholds
In 2012 Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy invited ten of the best UK poets writing today to take part in a series of residencies at the University of Cambridge Museums. Each poet spent time in their host museum or collection, exploring the collection and working with young people, helping them to develop their critical thinking skills as well as their writing.
2012-13

What's On

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
18 May 2022
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Learn the basics of how flowers are put together with pencil and watercolour in this two day botanical illustration course

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
27 May 2022
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Explore, experience and learn how watercolour works with professional painter John Wiltshire

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
31 May 2022
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Learn the secrets of great garden photography with Botanic Garden photographer Howard Rice

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
06 Jun 2022
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Explore the plant chemicals that provide colouration, aroma and taste of familiar and unfamiliar ornamental and edible plants

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
07 Jun 2022
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An introduction to the fascinating world of flowers by looking at their structure, classification and identification

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
09 Jun 2022
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Join Dr Chantal Helm for this special two-part out of hours course at the Botanic Garden

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
14 Jun 2022
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Join artist and tutor Reinhild Raistrick to produce your own unique and exciting mixed portrait of June flowers

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
20 Jun 2022
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An intensive course introducing flowering plant families to committed amateurs, undergraduates, graduates and professionals

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
28 Jun 2022
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Join Lizzie Harper to draw and paint some of the beautiful and diverse grasses and sedges that grow in the Botanic Garden’s collection

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
30 Jun 2022
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A practical session learning how to measure and record your garden’s shape and dimensions

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
01 Jul 2022
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Develop your watercolour technique and develop as a watercolour painter with John Wiltshire

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
05 Jul 2022
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Learn to illustrate these beautiful insects with artist and tutor Ian Loe, using pencil, pen, watercolour and coloured pencil

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
12 Jul 2022
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Using the Botanic Garden’s collection explore how variation provides the raw material on which natural selection operates to drive evolution

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
14 Jul 2022
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Demystify the 'difficult’ groups and learn to understand some of their intriguing beauty

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
26 Jul 2022
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Join Head of Horticulture Sally Pettit on this half day course discovering which plants will add scent to your garden

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
27 Jul 2022
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Become a gin explorer in this hands-on and immersive virtual workshop

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
29 Jul 2022
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An introduction to the innovative and versatile method of fine art printmaking using sunlight and water

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
07 Sep 2022
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A two-day course for those wishing to explore the beauty of black and white illustration and learn about tonal values

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
13 Sep 2022
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Discover the best ways to select and care for new trees and shrubs in your garden

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
15 Sep 2022
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Join artist and illustrator Karin Eklund on this five part evening course exploring fun and joyful ways of drawing plants and nature

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
21 Sep 2022
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Join Gwenda Kyd to explore why and how plants have inspired some the of world's finest art

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
23 Sep 2022
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Explore how the Renaissance Garden spread from the landscape and art of southern Europe, to Britain a century after its birth

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
27 Sep 2022
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A two-day course studying the basics of leaf variety as well as fruit, seed and nut form

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
17 Jan 2022

Spend three days learning to illustrate autumn fruits with tutor Penny Price

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
11 Oct 2022
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Explore the fungal kingdom, look at our relationship with fungi through the ages and discuss its importance creativity and the arts

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
18 Oct 2022
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The natural world is a great spur to creativity and this evening workshop could be the key to getting you started

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
21 Oct 2022
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Explore Renaissance flower art from backdrop to limelight, Botticelli to da Vinci with Garden Historian Twigs Way

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
28 Oct 2022
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Join tutor Owen Mountford to explore how grazing pastures have developed into a remarkable haven for wildlife

Cambridge University Botanic Garden 
02 Nov 2022
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Learn how to make your own round stake and strand basket using willow in a range of rich colours on this two-day workshop

The Cromwell Museum
26 Feb 2022
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Join us from your home to discover what life was like on a 17th century battleship, meet a real soldier-at-sea, learn how to tie knots, and sing along to some sea shanties. 

Norris Museum
12 Feb 2022
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Earn your space stickers in a solar system-themed trail and try your hand at some hands-on crafts.

Norris Museum
15 Feb 2022
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Create a family of 'tweet' clay owl hanging decorations at this family craft event.

Norris Museum
16 Feb 2022
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Take a tour round St Ives as it gets dark and see the town in a different light.

Norris Museum
17 Feb 2022
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Join the Museum for candlelight storytelling and torch-lit exploration.

Norris Museum
19 Feb 2022
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Enjoy a range of tactile twilight-themed art activities from your own activity tray.

The Polar Museum
21 Jan 2022
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Visit this special display as part of your free entry to the Polar Museum.

Kettle's Yard
18 Feb 2022
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Our 2022 Kettle’s Yard Student Programmer Emily Bretz has created this series titled Return to Normality performed by University of Cambridge Students.

 

Kettle's Yard
25 Feb 2022
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Our 2022 Kettle’s Yard Student Programmer Emily Bretz has created this series titled Return to Normality performed by University of Cambridge Students.

Kettle's Yard
11 Mar 2022
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Our 2022 Kettle’s Yard Student Programmer Emily Bretz has created this series titled Return to Normality performed by University of Cambridge Students.

Kettle's Yard
04 Mar 2022
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Our 2022 Kettle’s Yard Student Programmer Emily Bretz has created this series titled Return to Normality performed by University of Cambridge Students.