Open Cambridge
A number of artists who are working on our developments will be taking part in this year’s Open Cambridge which runs from 10th to 19th September.
This year’s programme highlights the City’s culinary heritage and cultures under the Heritage Open Day’s 2021 theme ‘Edible England’ and is a real treat for anyone interested in learning more about the city through a series of free walks, talks, tours and online events.
The Meadows artist Lilah Fowler and artist and poet Alex Finlay will take part in Living Landmasses online talk on 10th September at 6pm which takes a microscopic view of what is feeding all the plants around us. The talk explores how the subterranean world is inspiring the artwork being developed by Lilah for the new community centre at The Meadows. Alec is currently working on ‘The Sun Spoke,’ a series of commissions for our new developments.
On 11th September Colville Road artist, Janetka Platun will be hosting a short tour and talk around Colville Road with local historian Michelle Bullivant discovering Cherry Hinton’s history and the inspiration behind the artwork which is being created for the development.
Led by Campkin Road artist Hermione Spriggs and local forager/historian Cab Davidson, Hedge Hoardings is a walk around Kings Hedges following the ward’s ancient hedgerows, discovering plants and foraging. Taking place on 12th September between 2pm and 4pm this event explores hedges as edible places that offer a bounty of wild food to humans and other animals.
On 14th September between 7pm and 8.30pm Cromwell Road artist in residence Emma Smith hosts an online talk, Vegetal Hospitality, which explores the city as an expanded allotment taking inspiration from the history of allotments in Petersfield and Romsey. The talk is part of Emma’ Phuplec project, an artwork that celebrates the small, the wild, the overripe, the rotten, the undesired and the redundant as necessary tactics for a sustainable future.
Open Cambridge, run by the University of Cambridge Public Engagement team and supported by the Cambridge BID, has extended its usual three-day run to 10 days of tours, walks, films, talks and a host of activities that bring together local people and visitors to celebrate the unique heritage, culture and community of Cambridge.
The event is part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme, which is designed to offer special access to places that are normally closed to the public or charge admission.