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

Stained Glass Museum
14 Aug 2024
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Hunt for animals in the gallery and make your own animal bookmark. 

Stained Glass Museum
20 Aug 2024
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Come as a family and each 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
21 Aug 2024
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Explore the museum's amazing stained glass shields and create your own family crest. 

Stained Glass Museum
28 Aug 2024
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Enjoy the Stained Glass Museum's fantastic temporary exhibition featuring the work of James Cockerill and produce your own unique string and paper print!

Ely Museum
19 Aug 2024
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Explore Ely Museum when it is closed to the public! Ely Museum is having a special summer opening just for children with sensory sensitivities along with their families.

Ely Museum
01 Aug 2024
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This summer Ely Museum is going back to nature with some awesome crafts inspired by the natural world. The theme this week is insects! 

Ely Museum
08 Aug 2024
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This summer Ely Museum is going back to nature with some awesome crafts inspired by the natural world. The theme this week is Wild Flowers!

Ely Museum
15 Aug 2024
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This summer Ely Museum is going back to nature with some awesome crafts inspired by the natural world. The theme this week is eco-craft!

Ely Museum
22 Aug 2024
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This summer Ely Museum is going back to nature with some awesome crafts inspired by the natural world. The theme this week is Bees!

Ely Museum
30 Jul 2024
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Meet some incredible birds of prey, live at Ely Museum with the Raptor Foundation.
 

Museum of Cambridge
24 Jul 2024
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In this first event for the Museum of Cambridge’s Season of Wellbeing, craft a miniature version of yourself, and learn to appreciate the little things that make you, you!

Museum of Cambridge
31 Jul 2024
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In this first event for the Museum of Cambridge’s Season of Wellbeing, craft a miniature version of yourself, and learn to appreciate the little things that make you, you!

Museum of Cambridge
14 Aug 2024
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Get hands on with a complete guide to natural dyeing. From planting seeds to your very own naturally dyed bracelet, follow the process of a 2,000-year-old craft.
 

Museum of Cambridge
17 Aug 2024
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Get hands on with a complete guide to natural dyeing. From planting seeds to your very own naturally dyed bracelet, follow the process of a 2,000-year-old craft.

Museum of Cambridge
19 Aug 2024
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Design your own journal to help reflect and improve your wellbeing. Use a variety of materials to make a unique cover, then take some time to fill your journal in.
 

Museum of Cambridge
23 Aug 2024
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Design your own journal to help reflect and improve your wellbeing. Use a variety of materials to make a unique cover, then take some time to fill your journal in.

Museum of Cambridge
28 Aug 2024
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Turn rubbish into music in the Museum of Cambridge's final Summer workshop. Learn how a tin can and a balloon can become an instrument before taking part in a drum circle.
 

Museum of Cambridge
31 Aug 2024
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Turn rubbish into music in the Museum of Cambridge's final Summer workshop. Learn how a tin can and a balloon can become an instrument before taking part in a drum circle.

Great St Mary's Church
05 Aug 2024
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Explore the animals carved on the Church's wooden pews, learn about the real and imaginary creatures that feature and then have a go at creating your own!
 

Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
25 Jul 2024
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Try your hand at archaeology with a dig site at the museum. Archaeology related children’s crafts will be on offer and you can handle real fossils.
 

Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
01 Aug 2024
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Join the Denny Abbey and Farmland Museum as they step back in time to explore the lives of the Victorians. Experience Victorian washday using a dolly tub and mangle and create Victorian inspired crafts. 
 

Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
08 Aug 2024
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Have you got what it takes to be a Tudor? Make Tudor tiles like those uncovered in the Refectory and have a go at some Tudor themed crafts. 

Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
15 Aug 2024
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Back by popular demand – Knight Club returns to The Farmland Museum. Learn how to battle like a Medieval Knight and make your own sword and shield from recycled materials.

Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
22 Aug 2024
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Re-assemble Roman pottery and create your own mosaic design to explore what life may have been like for some of the first settlers on the site of Denny Abbey.

Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
29 Aug 2024
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Have a go at playing with toys and games from different historical time periods. Enact traditional Fen stories with the shadow puppet theatre.

Ely Museum
20 Jul 2024
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Some minibeasts have moved into the museum for the summer. Can you find them all? Discover fun facts about nature on this family trail around Ely Museum.

Great St Mary's Church
19 Aug 2024
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Come and explore the good sides of both light and darkness, as we think about the natural world and stories of creation. 

Cambridge Museum of Technology
02 Aug 2024
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Become an animator and create your own moving images!

Cambridge Museum of Technology
16 Aug 2024
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Get creative and make your own postcard. 
 

Cambridge Museum of Technology
30 Aug 2024
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Explore different ways to create paper planes and gliders. 
 

Centre for Computing History
09 Aug 2024
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Be introduced to robot 'staff' member, JNFR (Jennifer!) and hear about the history of Robotics!
 

Centre for Computing History
24 Jul 2024
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Be introduced to robot 'staff' member, JNFR (Jennifer!) and hear about the history of Robotics!

Centre for Computing History
22 Aug 2024
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Be introduced to robot 'staff' member, JNFR (Jennifer!) and hear about the history of Robotics!

Centre for Computing History
01 Aug 2024
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Find out what an algorithm is and how they help us tell computers what to do! 

The Cromwell Museum
07 Aug 2024
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Each Wednesday in August, join the Cromwell Museum to explore life was like in the 17th century with hands-on and family friendly activities. All activities free.

Centre for Computing History
26 Jul 2024
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They wanted to do a treasure hunt but all the clues are secret codes! Become a spy and help the team at the Centre of Computing History 'crack' these secret messages.
 

Centre for Computing History
15 Aug 2024
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They wanted to do a treasure hunt but all the clues are secret codes! Become a spy and help the team at the Centre of Computing History 'crack' these secret messages.

Centre for Computing History
26 Jul 2024
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During this special museum tour, in-house gaming experts will guide you through the history of video games from the seventies to the modern day.
 

Centre for Computing History
23 Aug 2024
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During this special museum tour, in-house gaming experts will guide you through the history of video games from the seventies to the modern day.
 

Centre for Computing History
15 Aug 2024
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Meet the mind behind the Centre of Computing History's biggest exhibit - the Megaprocessor!