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

The Fitzwilliam Museum
31 Jul 2024
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Sport and art collide in our free, family-friendly outdoor sensory play experience designed by artists Play Build Play.

Kettle's Yard
06 Aug 2024
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Join artist Jacqui Campbell at Kettle’s Yard for this fun printmaking workshop for 7-11 year olds.

Kettle's Yard
08 Aug 2024
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Join artist Kelly Briggs to create your own tiny sculpture which will disintegrate over time and become a patch of beautiful wild flowers. This workshop is for 11-16 year olds.

Kettle's Yard
13 Aug 2024
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Kettle's Yard
14 Aug 2024
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Join us for a workshop inspired by the current exhibition Megan Rooney: Echoes & Hours where we’ll be experimenting with mark-making, layers and vibrant colour. This workshop is for 7-11 year olds.

Kettle's Yard
15 Aug 2024
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Join environmental artist Kaitlin Ferguson for a hands-on workshop where you’ll become sustainable architects of the future, imagining and designing new buildings for Kettle’s Yard and Cambridge. This workshop is for 11-16 year olds.

The Fitzwilliam Museum
07 Aug 2024
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A relaxed morning at the Museum with picture books, drawing materials, sensory play resources, as well as tips and ideas to help you enjoy your visit.

Museum of Zoology
13 Aug 2024
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Lots of FREE crafts and animal related activities at our Summer Family Day

15 Aug 2024
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Visit us at the Grand Arcade for animal themed crafts and specimen handling, plus follow the trail! 

Whipple Museum of the History of Science
05 Aug 2024
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We look forward to welcoming you to the Whipple Museum for a relaxed morning exclusively aimed at children with sensory sensitivities along with their families, siblings and carers. 

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
19 Aug 2024
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We look forward to welcoming you to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for a relaxed morning exclusively aimed at children with sensory sensitivities along with their families, siblings and carers. 

Kettle's Yard
20 Aug 2024
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Discover Megan Rooney’s dramatic, large scale abstract paintings in the new exhibition ‘Echoes and Hours’ in this tour for blind and visually impaired visitors.

The National Horseracing Museum
24 Jul 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
26 Jul 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
31 Jul 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
02 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
07 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
09 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
14 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
16 Aug 2024
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Join a family workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
21 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
23 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
28 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

The National Horseracing Museum
30 Aug 2024
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Join a free family drop-in workshop at the National Horseracing Museum.

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
24 Jul 2024
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Drop-in and meet Dr Elsa Amsellem who researches how planets form. Can you sort out Earth rocks from meteorites and complete a challenge set by Elsa?

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
31 Jul 2024
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Drop-in and meet Megan Malpas, who researches the atmosphere in the Arctic – one of the coldest places in the world. Investigate how clouds form, create your own cloud and find out what it's like to be an Arctic research scientist.

 

 

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
07 Aug 2024
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Drop-in and meet Peter Methley, who researches how 800 million-year-old rocks could have formed from carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean. Get hands-on with some scientific testing and find out what it's like to work as an oceans researcher.

 

 

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
14 Aug 2024
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Drop-in and meet Jeannie Booth and Simon Crowhurst, part of a team that investigates the oceans and atmosphere from thousands of years ago, by studying tiny, microscopic fossils.

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
21 Aug 2024
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Drop-in, meet Museum scientists, and work with them to identify rocks and minerals using our powerful microscopes. 

 

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
28 Aug 2024
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Have you found a rock or fossil that you'd like identified? Drop-in to meet our Museum scientists for help, and get hands on with some amazing fossil and mineral specimens.

Museum of Classical Archaeology
26 Jul 2024
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Uncover the mysteries of ancient spells and prophecy at the Museum of Classical Archaeology

Museum of Classical Archaeology
08 Aug 2024
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Uncover the mysteries of ancient spells and prophecy at the Museum of Classical Archaeology

Museum of Classical Archaeology
13 Aug 2024
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Put on your civic planner hat and help us build an ancient city…

Museum of Classical Archaeology
02 Aug 2024
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Move over Paris Olympics, we’re heading back to where it all began with The Great Greek Olympic Games.

Museum of Classical Archaeology
29 Aug 2024
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Shields up! Join us for a relaxed afternoon of arts and crafts.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
17 Sep 2024
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Get hands on with artefacts found in our local region and hear the stories behind the objects with knowledgeable staff in a tour for blind and partially sighted adults. 

Stained Glass Museum
24 Jul 2024
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Make a beautiful glass lantern for your garden!

Stained Glass Museum
29 Jul 2024
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Create your own fused glass design and make your own stunning 10cm x 10cm glass piece for you to keep once it has been fired!

Stained Glass Museum
31 Jul 2024
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Paint a stunning 10cm x 10cm acrylic panel, inspired by the museum's varied and beautiful stained glass from medieval times to modern day. 

Stained Glass Museum
07 Aug 2024
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Join the Stained Glass Museum to make seaside crafts linked to their stunning stained glass windows.