PLACES TO SEE ART:

The staple of any art lover’s diet in Cambridge has to be The Fitzwilliam Museum. It houses a collection that ranges from Titian to Monet, while big exhibitions rival those at the London galleries. A Vermeer exhibition back in 2011 brought in more than 130,000 visitors. Currently on show are the ‘Origins of the Afro Comb’ and ‘The Night of Longing’, featuring Japanese art.

Kettle’s Yard was home of former Tate Gallery curator, Jim Ede, who died in 1990. His house remains as he left it, with work by sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska and painter Alfred Wallis. Although building work means that part of the house is currently closed, the cottages are still open to the public - make sure you ring the bell to enter.

Less than a 10 minute cycle from the centre is the Williams Art Gallery on Gwydir St. The gallery changes its contemporary-focused exhibitions every two to four weeks, meaning that it’s a reliable place to find inspiration. Williams now has a shared gallery space with Hot Numbers, the independent coffee shop next door. Take in great art over a cup of coffee – it’s a no brainer.

Make sure you don’t miss exhibitions put on by students themselves. King’s Art Centre and The Fountain are places to look. LAND, a recently established group of student artists, held an exhibition there last term featuring photography, poetry, music, painting and other performance based arts.


PLACES FOR DRAMA

The ADC theatre is the University’s most popular hot spot for anyone wanting to act, direct, design, or simply enjoy. At least two shows are put on each week, all featuring student companies. Two “Freshers’ Shows” this season provide great opportunities for anyone new to the University who wants to take to the stage.

The smaller sister theatre to the ADC is Corpus Playroom on St. Edward’s Passage is the. Be prepared to get up close and personal with the actors as you sit a foot away from the stage; this is the place to go if you’re after a more intimate affair. It’s a gem of a theatrical space.

Cambridge Arts Theatre is one of the city’s only theatre spaces not belonging to the University. This public theatre has a programme spanning from the experimental to the pantomime. Watch out for the triennial Cambridge Greek play later this month, and productions by big touring companies like the RSC and Kneehigh.

Venturing out to college theatres is definite worth it. Look out for plays at the Queens’ Fitzpatrick theatre, the Old Labs at Newnham, and Magdalene’s Cripps Auditorium.

Outdoor performances are rare until Easter term, but watch out later in the year as students take to fellows’ gardens across Cambridge to offer the more traditional forms of theatre. Think lots of Shakespeare like it used to be.

PLACES FOR FILMS

From Spanish experimental to new releases, Cambridge Picturehouse has it all. Re-runs of cult classics such as E.T. and Q&A sessions with directors make it a cinephile’s dream.

Want to make a film but have no idea how? Get involved with Cinecam, a student society, network, and community. Whether you need to use their equipment, or just need a kick-start with your project, give them a shout and they’ll see what they can do to help.

Watersprite, the Cambridge International Student Film Festival, brings big names from the British film world to the city in March, with last year’s lineup featuring Eddie Redmayne and Olivia Coleman. as well as offering opportunity for anyone to get involved. If you have a film ready and waiting, why not enter it into their annual short film competition?

PLACES FOR MUSIC

Cambridge Corn Exchange and The Junction are both brilliant venues for top quality music events as well as comedy and theatre. With performances from Jools Holland to Marilyn Peroux and Jimmy Carr to Reginald D. Hunter, don’t be surprised if the money you were saving for paninis in your buttery is put to more comical, less cheese-based use.

Beneath the chapel, Clare Cellars plays host to DJ sets and live bands like Cromwell’s Head and Laurie Lewis and the Fat Cats. Clare Jazz nights offer something a bit different - look out for the Battle of the Big Bands at the end of November.

For those of you whose musical taste has a more classical turn, West Road Concert Hall will satisfy your needs. Watch students perform for free during your lunch break.

The Street! New bands and buskers grace the streets of Cambridge every day. Be prepared for saxophones, drums, accordions, violins and guitars as dedicated Cambridge musicians keep their fingers nimble in the sub-zero temperatures that we all begrudgingly get used to.

PLACES TO READ

What the University Library lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for in its staggeringly large collection. The UL is the perfect place to get lost in a cultural adventure. With books, journals, maps, microfilms, photographs and sound recordings, there’s no reason not to go to the UL at least once during your time at Cambridge (that includes you Natural Scientists).

Heffers has been around for nearly 140 years, and is the perfect spot for book magpies. Down in the basement is a second-hand section where you can leaf through the annotated books of past Cambridge students.

So there you have it! With a copy of Varsity clutched in your left hand and a map (who are we kidding, we’re all using GPS on our phones now), go out and explore.