Part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme, the aim of Open Cambridge is to celebrate the fantastic history, architecture and culture of the city. It offers everyone, residents and visitors alike, the opportunity to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are free to explore.
This year, the programme, which can be found in venues across the city or online (www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk) boasts a range of fantastic events, ranging from tours and exhibitions to talks and behind-the-scenes tours of areas normally closed to the public.
Tour highlights include a chance to see behind the scenes of the iconic, new David Attenborough Building. Those who have green fingers or simply love to wander through beautiful spaces can join several walking tours of the College gardens including Clare, Newnham, Selwyn and Wolfson Colleges. Additionally, in celebration of the legacy of a great landscape designer, there is the opportunity to join a special tour of Capability Brown’s landscape and gardens at Madingley Hall.
In addition to the tours of beautiful spaces and grounds, there are several historical tours, including Cambridge Spies, Historic Cambridge and Cambridge Curiosities, all offering a rare insight into the culture and history of Cambridge.
Exhibition highlights this year include Lines of Thought at the University Library, which is celebrating its 600th anniversary. Meanwhile, to mark the quartercentenary year of Shakespeare’s death, King’s College Library is displaying rare early editions of the Bard’s plays alongside treasures from its archives that showcase the remarkable history of theatre in Cambridge. Also, for the first time in the UK, the renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei presents his latest work at the Heong Gallery and in the grounds of Downing College.
For those who love to take a peek behind the scenes, there are a number of well-known venues opening their doors for special Open Cambridge tours and talks. Some of these include the ADC theatre, the Fire Station, the Cambridge Mosque, the Cambridge Boathouses and the Memorial Church.
Cambridge is a city of contrasts; a city steeped in history but firmly based in the present with a constant eye on the future. A range of talks during this year’s Open Cambridge offer the chance for people to learn more about the city, past, present and future, including talks about the University Library, Cambridge University Press and the Cambridge market through the ages. A further talk explores how the railways effectively created modern Cambridge and continues to influence the city today and into the future.
A major highlight of the Festival each year is the Open Cambridge dinner. On Friday 9 September, visitors can enjoy an exceptional fine-dining experience at Trinity Hall, one of the oldest and most beautiful of the Cambridge Colleges. The evening begins with pre-prandial drinks on the River Terrace. This is followed by a four-course dinner, a seasonal feast for the senses, served in the medieval dining hall with its high-vaulted and oak beamed ceiling, stained glass windows and ornate architectural features.
Speaking about Open Cambridge 2016, Sue Long, Festival Coordinator, said: “This year, we have a fantastic programme of around 70 events, offering a unique insight into our incredible city. Each year, we welcome thousands of people to a wide range of heritage and cultural events on offer and we very much look forward to welcoming them again in September. There really is something for everyone and anyone curious to know more about this rather amazing city.”
Open Cambridge is a busy weekend and many of the events require pre-booking. Bookings open on Monday 15 August.
Visit www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk or call 01223 766 766. The phone- lines are open between 10.30am – 4pm, Monday to Friday. There are also plenty of drop-in events for people to enjoy.
Open Cambridge is part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme. Designed to offer special access to places that are normally closed to the public or charge admission, the initiative provides an annual opportunity for people to discover the local history and heritage of their community. For more information please visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
The Festival sponsors and partners are Kier and Cambridge BID.
For regular updates, Open Cambridge can be found on Twitter @OpenCambridgeUK #OC2016
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For more information, please contact: Becky Wieczorek 01223 761 871 [email protected]
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