{"id":13742,"date":"2025-08-21T10:09:41","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T09:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.museums.cam.ac.uk\/blog\/?p=13742"},"modified":"2025-09-02T11:11:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T10:11:03","slug":"cambridge-museums-activity-update-1-july-30-september-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.museums.cam.ac.uk\/blog\/2025\/08\/21\/cambridge-museums-activity-update-1-july-30-september-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"University of Cambridge Museums Activity Update, 1 July – 30 September 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Covering the period 1 July – 30 September 2024, this report provides an insight into some of the stories behind our NPO-funded activity delivered under our Collections In Action programme themes: Social Justice, Our Planet, Creating Opportunities, and Health and Wellbeing, as well as our underpinning Programme Enablement activity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Our main themes of Social Justice, Our Planet, Creating Opportunities, Health and Wellbeing, and Programme Enablement <\/strong>are now well-established and provide a focus for our work with audiences and developing new ways of working.<\/p>\n

UCM Social Justice and Our Planet research and development grants <\/strong>have contributed to the delivery of three projects during this period; all of which have allowed our collections to diversify their audiences, and establish new partnerships with local groups and creative practitioners. Alongside this, we have continued our work on programmes aimed at increasing access and creative opportunities across our collections.<\/p>\n

Case Study: Social Justice<\/h2>\n

Working with a range of partners including the City Council\u2019s Community Development team, our supported offer for local families<\/strong> aims to build participants\u2019 confidence and address perceptions that museums are \u201cnot for me\u201d. Partnering with organisations that are known and trusted by families, the visits are specially tailored to make families feel welcome and address barriers to accessing our collections. This includes the provision of transport, support from the museums\u2019 learning teams, refreshments and \u2018goody bags.\u2019<\/p>\n

We have put particular focus on enabling these opportunities to go to families that wouldn\u2019t normally have the confidence to access these spaces independently. The offer of transport has been instrumental in helping this, as transport can often be a barrier preventing families from being able to attend.
\n<\/em>Caroline Gill, Senior Community Development Officer (Children, Young People & Families), Cambridge City Council<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This summer, we hosted visits for families at the Museum of Zoology, Sedgwick Museum and the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology.<\/strong> Many of these families had not previously visited and were unaware of the free offer available to them.<\/p>\n

\"Children
Families share a picnic following a trip to the Museum
of Archaeology and Anthropology<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While these visits are primarily designed to build awareness of our museums and develop confidence in accessing our collections, feedback also indicates the importance of the programme in allowing families to spend time together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe enjoyed everything about the trip and learning new things for me and my children.\u00a0 It\u2019s so different and I haven\u2019t been before.\u201d
\n<\/em>Family visitors to the Zoology Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c[I\u2019d like to see] more things for families to do together over the summer. These things get us out the house doing something different.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to be able to have something the whole family can attend together.\u201d
\nComments from parents<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This summer we welcomed a new relationship with the Karim Foundation<\/strong><\/a>, a local charity which aims to relieve poverty and provide support for those in need. This can include refugees and asylum seekers, residents and migrants from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those who are isolated or with limited access to public funds.<\/p>\n

Taking place during a period of anti-immigration riots and racist protests following the mass stabbing in Stockport, the group\u2019s visit to the Sedgwick Museum highlighted the role that our collections can play in bringing communities together. At a time when many people, especially those of colour, felt uncomfortable being in public spaces, museum colleagues and partners within the Karim Foundation worked to reassure families about their trip and ensure they encountered a safe place in which to spend time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been great. I didn\u2019t even want to come out today with everything that\u2019s been happening but this has been something different for my little girl to do. I didn\u2019t even know all this was here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI liked the good reception from the ladies at the museum’s door who were smiling and welcoming everyone. I was very happy with this.\u201d<\/em>
\n<\/em>Comments from parents<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Two
Exploring the Sedgwick Museum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“From speaking to the families and watching them as they went around, I know that they have all really enjoyed it. We\u2019ve been able to make them aware of what is available to them in the City, plus help connect them to the University which many would not think was not open to them. One lady said it was good for her children to enjoy something away from the unrest that happened recently.”<\/em>
\nShahida Rahman, Karim Foundation Chair of Trustees<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Karim Foundation highlighted how important it is for them to be able to offer these visits to their families. Very often, the Charity is responding to those in crisis situations such as needing access to food or additional assistance. To be able to provide \u201csomething fun that they can enjoy while spending time together\u201d, is a valuable extension to their offer.<\/p>\n

Case Study: Our Planet<\/h2>\n

Along with creating a platform for our museums and audiences to explore issues relating to climate change and its impact on biodiversity, recent Our Planet<\/strong> funded projects have allowed our museums to work collectively in: engaging new audiences; establishing new and meaningful partnerships with local groups; and have provided paid opportunities for local creative practitioners.<\/p>\n

Science Connections<\/strong>
\nThis summer, a specially designed trail brought together the collections of the Zoology, Sedgwick and Whipple Museums<\/strong> and allowed families to explore animal evolution while making links with present day environmental change. Having a single trail for use across all three museums ensured less printing and waste, and encouraged audiences to visit somewhere new.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The Science Connections trail allowed families to learn about animal adaptation at the Museum of Zoology<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Working with local designer and children\u2019s illustrator Tonka Uzu, the museums were keen to create a resource that created opportunities for families to learn together and which they would want to keep as a record of their visit.<\/p>\n

730 visitors<\/strong> picked up a trail over the summer with half of these visiting a collection for the first time. A follow-up survey for the activity also revealed that:<\/p>\n