University and Colleges

Culture and Sport

Cambridge has a strong tradition of achievement in the creative arts and sport, with many former students going on to gain international standing as artists, performers and athletes.

Visual arts

• Regular exhibitions are held at the University's art galleries, the Fitzwilliam Museum and Kettle's Yard - there is a regularly updated calendar of exhibitions and talks.
• Murray Edwards College (the current trading name of New Hall) has a collection of twentieth century art by distinguished women artists and also hosts regular exhibitions.
• There is an outdoor exhibition of sculpture at Jesus College in the summer and the college has a permanent sculpture collection.

Sport

• University Sports Clubs
• University and College sport, including information on facilities, clubs and news.
• Recreational sports are included in the list of clubs and societies.
• Cambridge takes part in the Boat Race annually. The Boat club provides extensive information about rowing in Cambridge year round, including the bumps, which take place in Cambridge in March and June, and races at Henley.
• University of Cambridge Sport: Annual Review 2007 - 2008 [PDF]

Music

• The University hosts three Resident Music Ensembles at the West Road Concert Hall:
  • The Academy of Ancient Music
  • The Endellion String Quartet hold masterclasses as well as concerts.
  • The Britten Sinfonia is the University's Orchestra in Association.
• A full concert calendar is available at the West Road Concert Hall
• Cambridge University Musical Society organises regular orchestral and choral concerts.
• Concerts are included in the programmes of the Fitzwilliam Museum and Kettle's Yard
• The Faculty of Music has a useful list of music links.

Theatre

• The ADC Theatre is the University's venue for drama and comedy as well as other events organised by student societies and local groups.
• The Amateur Dramatic Club (or ADC) is the oldest University dramatic society in England. They stage an exciting and diverse range of productions every term, many of them at the ADC Theatre, where they are the resident company. They regularly stage shows at other Cambridge venues, annually at the Edinburgh Fringe and occasionally on tour abroad.
• The Footlights Dramatic Club has become famous as the launchpad for the careers of many comedians and actors.

Dance

• There are a variety of student dance societies running events throughout the year.
• Cambridge Contemporary Dance aims to provide a platform for more serious dancers and choreographers to perform and develop new dance pieces in Cambridge and beyond.
• The Cambridge Contemporary Dance Workshop provides regular classes in contemporary, hip-hop, and complementary styles such as flamenco and yoga.
• Queens’ College Contemporary Dance Society offers beginner, advanced and creative classes to those who have never danced before and those who are more experienced dancers. Classes are open to members of Queens’ College and non-Queens’ members. Queens' is the only Cambridge college with both a professional dancer and musician in residence and working in collaboration.
• The Cambridge University Ballet Club runs classes throughout every week of term at all levels. The classes are relaxed, friendly, encouraging and taught by professional teachers.

Gardens

• Gardens in Cambridge Colleges are open regularly under the National Gardens Scheme and the Red Cross Gardens scheme
• Bridge the Gap charity walk takes place every September through College gardens
• The University Botanic Garden is open every day - they also run courses for adults and periodic workshops and displays.
• The Institute of Continuing Education run courses on Landscape and Garden History.
• New Hall (now Murray Edwards College) contributed a garden to the 2007 Chelsea Flower Show. The garden, which won a bronze medal, was inspired by the college's buildings, collections and the achievements of its members, was designed and created from start to finish by a team of alumnae, including the designer, Sue Goss, under the guidance of Head Gardener, Jo Cobb.

Related pages

What's On

University societies

University Sports Clubs

Museums, Collections and Libraries