Centre for Material Culture | Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

A Education and Outreach Assistant shows objects from the collections to a group of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

About

The Centre for Material Culture (CMC) is a research, public engagement and storage facility for the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The CMC houses around 40% of the collections cared for by the museum. The collections represent the cultural heritage, history and creative spirit of peoples in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania and have tremendous cultural significance to communities locally and around the world.

The CMC is a working museum store designed to make accessing our collections easier than ever.

Anyone can access the collections at the CMC. We welcome all visitors by appointment only.

You can explore the collections cared for by the museum via the online collections portal. Contact a member of staff to arrange your visit.

Are you a teacher or a lecturer in further or higher education interested in teaching with our collections?

Higher Education

Unlock new ways of engaging with the past and present with an object-focussed teaching session at the CMC. Select objects from the collection which relate to your teaching for students to investigate and handle in person.

Further Education

Introduce your students to new ways of seeing the world with a class trip to the CMC. Get in touch to build a session around your curriculum or to organise an extracurricular session, such as a tour or creative project.

Are you part of a community group with a cultural, creative or informal research interest in the collections?

Community Groups

Get in touch to explore the CMC and the collections through hands-on object access and creative activities informed by their cultural and material contexts.

Visiting the CMC: Preparing for your visit

Visitor information on how to get the building, what to do when you arrive and accessibility details will be provided before your visit.

Access details can also be found on our Accessibility at the CMC page.

Find out more about the Museum's ambitious Stores Move Project (2020-2025) which saw over 300,000 objects moved across Cambridge to the CMC.

Getting to the CMC

The exterior of a Cold War nuclear bunker.

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Centre for Material Culture

Gilpin Road / Kingfisher Way

Cambridge

CB2 8BY

What3Words:

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When you arrive please ring the button doorbell which is located on the right side of the metal gate, at waist-height.

Transport

Detailed information about how to get to the CMC will be provided before your visit.

The Centre for Material Culture is a short walking distance from Cambridge train station. There are two bus lines near the CMC, the U Bus and the PR3 Park & Ride.

There are ten (10) uncovered bike racks within the gate of the CMC that visitors are welcome to use.

Parking is restricted and spaces can only be available by prior arrangement.

Inside the CMC

Find out more about the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology’s collection on our online catalogue.

Please note: The online catalogue does not specify whether the object is located at the CMC or on the Museum site. When identifying objects to see please liaise with a member of staff to confirm that the material you want to see is in the CMC.