The Museum of Cambridge is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of the Mini Museums Programme this summer. Back by popular demand, this programme invites residents of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire to showcase their love for their region in miniature form.
Building upon the resounding success of the previous launch in January and February 2023, where almost 3,000 individuals participated through workshops, ordering online kits, and joining pop-up events, the Museum is excited to introduce new workshops and an original onsite exhibition that celebrates the things that make Cambridgeshire special. The exhibition, running 7th August – 31st September, will place original Mini Museums on display in the Museum’s newly refurbished attic.
Last time around, the Mini Museums created by local residents celebrated everything that was special about Cambridgeshire; from punting on the River Cam, splashing about in Jesus Green Lido, observing the wildlife of the Fens, to having Sunday lunch at the Robin Hood pub – all viewable on the Museum’s digital exhibition site.
The Museum extends a special request to those who participated in the previous project earlier this year. The Museum kindly asks previous project participants to loan their Mini Museums to be exhibited in the newly revamped exhibition space for the summer period.
All they’ll need to do is pop their Mini Museum down at the Museum of Cambridge on Saturday 29th or Monday 31st July. They’ll receive a special thank you for loaning their Mini Museum for the exhibition, including free tickets for all their friends and family to come along and see their Mini Museum in the exhibition itself.
Alex Smaridge, Engagement and Collections Manager said:
We are delighted to be relaunching the Mini Museum programme for the summer of 2023!
Ever since the programme started in January we’ve been eager to find a way to display the Mini Museums here at the Museum of Cambridge; now that the building work is completed we are so pleased to be able to celebrate the creativity of Cambridgeshire right here in the former White Horse Inn.
We urge everyone who created a Mini Museum back in January and February to take part in this new exhibition, and loan us their Mini Museums for the summer!
Thanks to the generous support from Cambridge City Council, the Mini Museums Project will also offer nine workshops throughout the summer holidays, bookable online. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own unique Mini Museums and contribute to a physical exhibition hosted at the Museum of Cambridge.
The Museum of Cambridge envisions the Mini Museums Project as an ongoing initiative extending beyond the summer into 2024. However, to achieve this goal, the Museum relies on the support of the local community and businesses.
The Museum’s Director, Annie Davis, said:
‘We were bowled over by the success of the My Mini Museums project back in January 2023. The creativity and passion of the people of Cambridgeshire was incredible to see.
Sadly, this first round of funding just couldn’t meet the demand of those who wanted to get involved; we were forced to turn groups away, including schools, community groups and youth groups, simply due to a lack of funding.
Thankfully, this summer Cambridge City Council has agreed to offer a small tranche for us to run workshops over the summer- and we are so grateful. However, this second round of funding is also limited, and only covers us for a short round of summer activity.
We know the Mini Museums project has the potential to engage thousands of people across Cambridgeshire, the whole year round. That’s why we’re inviting local businesses and individuals to donate to our Mini Museums Fund, to help us launch this as year-round, long-term project with the resources to make sure every person, whether they’re 1 or 100, has the chance to celebrate what’s meaningful to them about living in Cambridgeshire through a Mini Museum.’
To take part in this celebration of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire you can find out more at: https://www.museumofcambridge.org.uk/myminimuseum/
Or email alex.smaridge@museumofcambridge.org.uk.
To provide a financial donation to support the Mini Museums Fund go to https://www.museumofcambridge.org.uk/support-us/mini-museums-fund/