Knowledge Exchange and University Collections (2023-2026)

Knowledge Exchange and University Collections (KEUC) explored the potential of the University’s collections to create social and cultural impact. We worked with a range of university and community partners to develop scalable approaches to participatory research and practice, asking questions together in order to bring about change. 

Our team of four Practitioner Researchers drew on established practice and initiatives focused on wellbeing, community participation and early childhood to create sustainable partnerships with communities and organisations across the region and beyond. Our research was co-developed with our partners to ensure they responded to the issues and questions which were most relevant to their lives.

KEUC projects resulted in approximately 5074 engagements across public, professional, and academic audiences, evidencing the scale and reach of research‑informed practice delivered through the programme. Public engagement (2,537 engagements) focused on access, participation, wellbeing, and inclusion, through learning, public programming, and access focused activity. Professional audiences (1,325 engagements) included museum and gallery professionals, educators, health and social care practitioners, and policymakers, engaged through CPD, invited lectures, conferences, and policy and special‑interest forums supporting sector leadership and practice change. Academic engagement (1,212) encompassed undergraduate and postgraduate students, doctoral and early‑career researchers, and academic peers, reached through formal teaching, invited academic lectures and conference activity.

Research findings are shared through a variety of co-authored peer-reviewed publications (8 currently under review) as well as more than 20 blog posts, briefing papers and case studies authored for non-specialist audiences. Insights gained through the programme and have enabled us to evaluate and reflect on our practice, to better understand and evidence the impact of museums, art and culture and to begin to embed and develop participatory ways of working across the different functions of the Museum. 

An important legacy of KEUC has been the establishment of Action Forum, a group made up participants from the different project strands. Action Forum meet quarterly with leaders from the Museum, creating a discussion space for community members to actively shape the future direction of our programmes.

KUEC was funded through Research England's Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) 2023-6. 

Projects 

Our Early Childhood Research and Family Welcome programme focused on how young children & those who care for them experience the Museum. We worked with families and educators to create meaningful connections between young children and artworks and explored innovative pedagogies and resources to understand how best to support learning, participation and engagement. 

Connections Through Collections (2023-5) project was co-led by ten collaborators drawn from across the Cambridge community and investigated how the Museum collections, displays and programmes could be made more accessible and relevant to a wider range of people. The project culminated in a co-curated display 'Tensions of Belonging: Connection Cambridge.' 

Our Health and Wellbeing Research involved local communities in research which promoted positive health & wellbeing, enabled inclusive practice and created a welcoming environment where people feel connected and cared for. Take A Walk in My Shoes explored how it feels to be 'in' and move around the Museum. By working with people affected by non-visible disabilities we considered how each individual's experience is unique, and address potential challenges and opportunities. Happy Place explored how young adults' wellbeing can be improved by their engagement with museums, their stories and spaces. 

Botticell in Cambridge Creative Producers was a participatory research project led a PhD student from University of Leicester centred around the display National Treasures: Botticelli in Cambridge. The project used arts, creativity, and dialogue to explore how young adults experience fine art and the Museum in their daily lives, and explore ways for the Museum to serve them better.

You can find Briefing Papers sharing findings of each of the KEUC projects in the Camtree Practitioner Research Library. 

Blog posts, case studies and features 

Noble, K (2025) Creating Belonging: Museums as spaces for community knowledge-making. Feature, Arts Professional 

Wallis, N (2025) Welcome on Wheels: The Fitz Family Trolley. Blog post, University of Cambridge Museums 

Jefcoate, B (2025) Creating a Happy Place at The Fitzwilliam Museum. Blog post, University of Cambridge Museums 

Stock-Duerdoth, M (2025) The Creative Producers, Case Study, engage 

Bradfield, E, Georgie, Jo, Alex & Dale (2025) Take a Walk in My Shoes: top tips for first time visitors, Reflections on the senses, Reflections on space Blog series, Collections, Connections Communities 

Farrell-Banks, D, Pollard-Crowe J & Lister, T (2025) The Science of Art Family Day at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Blog post, Collections, Connections Communities 

Stock-Duerdoth, M, Coles- Smith, C & Payton, A (2025) Q&A Get the Gossip: Young Adults, Botticelli, and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Blog post, Collections, Connections Communities 

Lam-McArthur, J (2025) The Missing Label Blog post, Collections, Connections Communities 

Hales, R, Harrison, A & Farrell-Banks, D (2025) Connection Collections: A foot, the fends and poetry. Blog post, Collections, Connections Communities 

Wallis, N (2025) Drawing in the Museum: Drawing Out Ideas. Blog Post, National Society of Art and Design Education

Wallis, N. (2024) The Family Welcome: A Museum Research Project,  Blog post, University of Cambridge Museums 

Wallis, N. (2024) Positioning families as co-researchers at the museum: How do we see and hear the voices of parents and children?, Blog post, Ethical Research Involving Children

Wallis, N. (2024) Drawing in the museum, drawing out ideas, Blog post, National Society for Education in Art and Design 

Dryzek, R (2024) Welcoming Families at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Blog post, University of Cambridge Museums 

Hales, R, Lister, S & T, Pollard-Crowe, J & Farrell-Banks, D (2023) Breaking the Silo: Delivering a Participant Led Workshop,  Blog post, University of Cambridge Museums

Hales, R. & Farrell-Banks, D. (2023) Making Connections through Collections, Blog post, University of Cambridge Museums 

Peer- reviewed articles and papers 

Noble, K, Farrell-Banks, D, Bradfield, E, Jefcoate, B, Stock-Duerdoth, M & Wallis, N (under review) Microscopic, revolutionary acts’: participatory action research as a form of activism in the university museum 

Wallis, N & Noble, K (under review) Introducing The Compass Model: Navigating quality educational museum encounters by positioning young children as active cultural citizens  

Farrell-Banks, D, Noble, K, Hales, R. Lam-McArthur, J, Nelms, S & Pollard-Crowe, J (Under review)  Loosening the Roots of the Institution: Participation, Discomfort and Uncertainty in a University Art Museum 

Stock-Duerdoth, M, Noble, K, Langford, N & Farrell-Banks, D (under review) 'Something to take away and something to leave behind': interpretation as a participatory ecosystem over the life of a display 

Jefcoate, B (under review) When noise is everywhere, joy becomes radical: Designing exhibitions for emotional recovery in overstimulated times

Bradfield, E (under review) Museums for Life: An Evidence-Based Public Health Approach to Inclusive Practice with Older Adults  

Noble, K & Pollard-Crowe, J (under review) From elephant to phoenix: Reflections on the evolution of the university museum 

Wallis, N & Noble, K (under review) Sustaining the Moment: Young Children's Engagement with an Art Museum through Photography  

Project Team

Neal Spencer, Deputy Director Collections and Research

Kate Noble, Assistant Research Professor Museum Participation and Practice

Jo Vine, Head of Research and Impact

Emily Bradfield, Practitioner Research Associate: Collections and Wellbeing (Older Adults)

David Farrell- Banks, Practitioner Research Associate: Collections and Wellbeing (Young Adults)

Becky Jefcoate, Practitioner Research Associate: Collections and Wellbeing (Older Adults)

Nicola Wallis, Practitioner Research Associate: Collections and Early Childhood (Older Adults)

Christina Bulow, Practitioner Research Coordinator

Molly Stock-Duerdoth, Practitioner Research PhD Student from the University of Leicester