Mini Museums Fund
In January 2023, we launched the Mini Museums programme in Cambridgeshire, inviting residents to design their very own Mini Museum. Our goal was to discover what was important to the people of the region and what cherished memories or objects they would want to represent in their very own miniature museum.
The response we received was astounding. Almost 3000 people participated in the programme in just two months, creating Mini Museums at home, attending workshops, and engaging with us at our pop-up stalls. Demand was so high that we quickly ran out of Mini Museum kits for home delivery, and our workshops were booked up day after day.
The Mini Museums created by the residents of Cambridgeshire were truly remarkable, showcasing the creativity and passion of our community – you can see some of them here in our digital gallery. The Mini Museums depict everyday activities that hold deep meaning to local residents, such as punting on the River Cam, swimming in the Lido, exploring the Fens, visiting museums, enjoying Sunday lunches in the pub, and playing footie in the park.
When we surveyed the participants about their experience with the Mini Museums workshops, an overwhelming 100% responded to say that they had enjoyed their experience and expressed their desire to participate in future programmes. Comments from participants included:
‘Another great project – so nice to reflect as a family on what makes this place so important to us.‘
‘We’d never think to have this conversation…really interesting to see the things that my husband and children really love about living here (and that they are all things we have done together!)‘
‘Really nice to feel that we made today is part of something much bigger.‘
Sadly, we weren’t able to continue the programme past February 2023, as our funding ran out. We found ourselves turning away requests from schools, community groups and young groups – simply because our funding just wouldn’t stretch far enough. Cambridge City Council kindly offered to fund an additional 9 workshops this summer, and we’re thrilled to relaunch these this July and combine this with an exhibition of Mini Museums right here at the Museum itself.
However, our ambition is to ensure that Mini Museums can be a year-round initiative, serving as a powerful tool for self-expression, community engagement, and reflection on the essence of being a Cambridgeshire resident. That’s why we need your assistance to sustain and strengthen the Mini Museums program in a way that is both resilient and sustainable.
You can support us by making a donation to our Mini Museums Fund.
- £15 will create a Mini Museum kit to be posted directly to the home of a Cambridgeshire resident.
- £650 will deliver a Mini Museums workshop for a school, youth or community group in Cambridgeshire.
- £5,000 will support us to run a series of pop-up workshops across the region for schools, community groups and families.
By donating today, you will be investing in the creativity of Cambridge and helping foster a sense of community and belonging throughout the region. The Mini Museums project has already proven its value, and with your support, we can ensure its continuous success and impact.
You can donate online using a debit or credit card, by clicking the button below. Note, we use Paypal to process our transactions securely, but you don’t need a Paypal account to make a donation – just click ‘Pay by debit or credit card’.
Or, you can send us a cheque directly to the Museum: Museum of Cambridge, 2-3 Castle Street, CB3 0AQ.
Thank you in advance for your generosity! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Mini Museums programme.