Dear Clare Hall members and friends,

Please find below a list of events taking place this week and beyond, to which you are warmly invited.

➢ Members’ events

New Clare Hall Books |
Pre-order now!

Clare Hall is delighted to share news of two forthcoming that highlight the College’s engagement with art, collecting and material culture.

Collecting Dutch Golden Age Paintings: The Search for the Winterfeldt Wouwerman by Professor Alan Short, President of Clare Hall, offers a personal and scholarly reflection on the pursuit of Dutch Golden Age paintings, drawing on decades of research and collecting experience. Several works from this collection are displayed in the President’s Lodge.

Studio Potters: The Bell Collection at Clare Hall by Clare Hall Associates Professor Gordon Bell and Helen Ritchie celebrates the Bell Collection, one of the College’s most distinctive cultural assets.

Fine more information and pre-order the books here. There is a 10% discount if you subscribe to the publisher’s newsletter.

Clare Hall Through Your Lens: Seasonal Photography Competition |
Monday 16 February – Monday 2 November 2026

Following the wonderful response to our community photo project, Clare Hall Through Your Lens continues throughout this special anniversary year as our official 60th Anniversary Photography Competition.

We invite students, fellows, staff, and families to capture Clare Hall’s grounds, gardens, and moments of college life across all four seasons. At the end of each season, a judging panel will select the top three photographs, which will go forward to be included in a commemorative Clare Hall 60th Anniversary Calendar.

This is a chance to celebrate Clare Hall at 60, highlight our natural environment, and contribute to a lasting visual record of the College during this milestone year.

Find out how to take part on the main event page.

Family Supper |
Friday 24 April 2026, 5.30pm

Join us for a Family Supper starting in the Meeting Room at 5.30pm where we do a craft activity, before heading for supper at about 6pm. After supper we will return to the Meeting Room to watch a film together if there is enough demand. 

There is no need to book – this is an informal event and dinner will be the regular dining hall with usual prices, and half price for children. Family suppers are organised by Chandy Nath and Susannah Salter.

Clare Hall Merch Sale 2026 |
Monday 27 April – Monday 4 May 2026

Clare Hall GSB is pleased to announce the second round of College-wide merchandise sale, including an exclusive 60th Anniversary collection.

The online shop will be open on Monday 27 April and will be available for one week only, until Monday 4 May. All members of the Clare Hall community are welcome to browse and order from both the standard range and the special anniversary designs.

Whitsun Feast 2026 |
Wednesday 20 May 2026, 7pm

Get ready to indulge in an evening of elegance and delight at the Clare Hall Whitsun Feast on Wednesday 20 May!

• 7:00pm – Reception in the Common Room
• 7:30pm – Feast in the Dining Hall

For inquiries or assistance with booking, please contact Hilal, the College Events Manager, at college.administrator@clarehall.cam.ac.uk.

Clare Hall May Event 2026 |
Friday 19 June 2026, from 6.30pm

On Friday 19 June 2026, Clare Hall turns back the clock to 1966 with a Swinging Sixties-themed May Week celebration. From 18:30 until 02:00, join us for a celebration of the past, present and future of Clare Hall. An exciting evening of live music, dancing, great food and drinks awaits, promising a night worthy of six decades of Clare Hall.

Tickets will be released in stages: Clare Hall student tickets on 2 March at 12 pm, Fellow and Life Member tickets on 9 March at 12 pm, and guest tickets on 11 March at 12 pm. With limited capacity and strong demand expected, we encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.

Buy your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/clarehallgsb/2079556

➢ Lectures and talks

The Henry Bradshaw Society Lecture 2026 |
Friday 24 April 2026, 5pm

You are warmly invited to attend the Henry Bradshaw Society Lecture delivered by Professor Peter Jeffery, Clare Hall Visiting Fellow.

About the lecture ‘The Oldest Text of the Latin Mass: A New Reading of Ordo Romanus I’: Ordo Romanus I deserves to be better known as a source for the political and religious history of medieval Europe. The wording changed significantly while the text was in circulation between the 8th and 12th centuries. A new theory about the origins of the text poses the question: what is the best way to present this “living literature” in a modern critical edition?

Clare Hall Colloquia – Easter 2026 |
Tuesday 28 April – Tuesday 16 June 2026, 7.15pm

The Clare Hall Colloquia provide members of the College – especially (but not exclusively) Visiting Fellows and Life Members – with an opportunity to present their research, whether in its early stages or already published, in a friendly setting. They are a great way to discuss your ideas, meet fellow members and to contribute to our vibrant community. Sessions take place on Tuesday evenings during term time, 7.15–9.15pm, in the Clare Hall Meeting Room. Refreshments are provided.

The first talk of the term will take place on 28 April with speaker Dr Elise Garritzen (Visiting Fellow, University of Helsinki, Finland).

Title: Re-Imagining the Historian in Victorian England

What constitutes a historian? What skills and qualities should a historian cultivate? Who is entitled to define historians’ “physiognomy”? Victorians asked these questions as history transformed from a Romantic literary pursuit into a modern discipline. This talk explores how Victorian historians used heroization to build a model for the new kind of a “scientific” historian and argue that the hero-worshipping helped to institute history as a modern discipline at the cost of normalizing scholarly vices.  

Please see the full Easter programme here.

English Literature SIG: Professor Dame Gillian Beer and Dr Trudi Tate |
Friday 1 May 2026, 5pm

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the meetings for the English Literature SIG. Meetings are held at 5pm in the Clare Hall Meeting Room, followed by a group dinner in the Dining Hall.

For further details please contact Professor Eric Nye, SIG convenor, at ewn10@cam.ac.uk.  Zoom link provided on request.

From Academia to Industry: A Personal Journey |
Monday 18 May 2026, 5.30pm

Join Dr Davide Gianni, Senior Director of Functional Genomics at AstraZeneca, for the first Informal Discussion Group event of Clare Hall’s Industry and Enterprise Programme. This series of events is designed to facilitate an interactive conversation between industry professionals and members of the college and university’s academic ecosystem, providing a forum for interested students and academics to learn about careers and pathways in industry and enterprise in a relaxed and informal setting. 

What the session will cover:

• Describes a personal journey and transition from academia to industry
• Professional, personal and leadership characteristics companies are looking for 
• Career paths in the pharma industry
• Practical insights for students, postdocs and early career academics who may be considering a move into industry

Date: Monday 18 May 2026
Time: 17:30 – 19:00
Location: King Room

• See event details here.
• Learn more about the Industry & Enterprise Programme here.
• Please sign up for the event here.

Since this series is restricted to 12 participants per session, please be sure to let us know if, after signing up, you can no longer make the event (attendance will be taken). Spaces will then be allocated to those on the waiting list.

The Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography |
Thursday 21 May – Thursday 4 June 2026, 2.15pm

The Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography offers a unique opportunity for students and scholars to reflect on some great historical works and engage in discussion with renowned experts. This Easter term, the seminar will take place between the 21 May and the 4 June and will be composed of three meetings. The charming and fresh atmosphere of the Richard Eden Suite in Clare Hall, West Court, will be the location for the discussions.

The first meeting is on Thursday 21 May from 2.15-4.00 pm with speaker Rosamond McKitterick (Professor Emerita of Medieval History, University of Cambridge).

Find more information here. Register for the seminars via Eventbrite.

➢ Music

Fitzwilliam String Quartet: Shostakovich, Carwithen, Beethoven |
Saturday 25 April 2026, 7.30pm

The Fitzwilliam String Quartet presents an evening of striking contrasts and compelling musical storytelling. 

Shostakovich’s Seventh Quartet opens with quiet intensity, a deeply personal work written in memory of his first wife. Doreen Carwithen’s First Quartet follows, unfolding with lyrical clarity and pastoral colour, while a restless energy drives the music forward. The programme concludes with Beethoven’s String Quartet in A minor, Op. 132, a work of profound depth whose central “Holy Song of Thanksgiving” offers a luminous reflection on suffering, healing, and gratitude.

A rare opportunity to hear three distinctive voices brought to life in one compelling programme.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite: General Admission – £20, Clare Hall members – £15, students – £5.

May Madrigals at Robinson College |
Friday 1 May 2026, 8.15am

All Clare Hall members are invited to celebrate the arrival of Spring with Robinson College Choir, who will be singing from atop the Robinson tower, 8.15-8.30am on Friday 1 May. 

A Madrigal is a secular, polyphonic song dating back to the European Renaissance period, and the tradition of May Madrigals being sung from College towers began centuries ago at Magdalen Oxford.

For any queries, please contact Maria at mcc204@robinson.cam.ac.uk.

Clare College Choral Evensong |
Sunday 3 May 2026, 6pm

All members of Clare Hall are warmly welcome to Clare Choral Evensong, sung by the Clare College Choir on Sunday 3rd May at 6pm in Clare Chapel. The service will last about an hour, and will be followed by drinks in the Scholars’ Garden (ante-chapel if wet), and then by a roast supper in Hall for those who would like to stay (£7.70, which can be paid on the night).

Read more about the service and register here.

Exploring the Influence of Irish Folk Music |
Saturday 9 May 2026, 7.30pm

Discover how Ireland’s rich musical traditions have inspired composers across Europe in this vibrant chamber concert on Saturday 9 May!

Graham Walker (cello), Eleanor Ryan (violin) and Patrick Hemmerlé (piano) present a programme shaped by the colour and character of Irish folk music. At its heart is Frank Martin’s Trio on Irish Tunes, a lively and captivating work that remains one of his most beloved chamber pieces. Folk song arrangements by Benjamin Britten and Ludwig van Beethoven offer striking contrasts in style, yet both reveal a shared fascination with Ireland’s distinctive musical voice. Together, the programme brings to life the enduring appeal of a tradition that has long stood apart while inspiring generations of composers.

Programme:

• Beethoven 12 Irish Folk Songs WO 154
• Martin Trio on Irish Folk Tunes
• Britten Irish Folk Songs

Book your tickets via Eventbrite! General Admission – £20, Clare Hall members – £15, students – £5.

‘A Thousand Charms’ – Student Music Concert |
Saturday 16 May 2026, 7pm

We are delighted to host a music concert featuring talented students Isabella Theodosius (voice) and Philip Turner (theorbo) on Saturday 16 May at 7.00pm. The recital will be accompanied by animation designed by Ruby Finlyason (MPhil in Digital Humanities; GSB Communications Officer).

All are welcome to attend and admission is free. Please RSVP through this link.

See the full programme here.

➢ Art

‘Infinite Variations’ – A 60th Anniversary Exhibition of Art in the Life of Clare Hall |
Friday 20 March – Friday 19 June 2026, 10am-4pm

Clare Hall is delighted to present its 60th Anniversary exhibition of artworks collected over the years. It is open to public from 20th March to 19th June 2026, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

Find more information on the main event page.

The Bell Collection of British Studio Pottery, 1920-1980 |
Ongoing

A rotating display of some 400 pieces of studio ceramics. Learn more at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/bellcollection/

➢ External events

Grand Final of the Cambridge Climate Challenge |
Friday 1 May 2026, from 3pm

Discover cutting-edge climate solutions and the people behind them!

Nine teams are competing in the Grand Final of the 2026 Cambridge Climate Challenge. They’ll pitch their climate innovation ideas to you and a panel of expert judges to win up to £5,000!

Connect with entrepreneurs over drinks and canapés, discover up-and-coming climate businesses, and celebrate the finalists at King’s College on Friday 1 May.

Book your Grand Final ticket.

Lorna Casselton Memorial Lecture 2026 – St Cross College, Oxford |
Thursday 14 May 2026, 5pm

The 2026 Lorna Casselton Memorial Lecture, entitled How Experimental Worm Genetics and Genomics Revealed an Ancient World of Tiny RNAs, will be given by Professor Victor Ambros (University of Massachusetts Medical School), Nobel Laureate and Professor Gary Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School), Nobel Laureate, at 5pm on Thursday 14th May in the Mathematical Institute Lecture Theatres 1 and 2, Woodstock Road, Oxford. The Lecture will also be livestreamed.

Admission is free, but booking is required via the website: https://www.stx.ox.ac.uk/event/lorna-casselton-memorial-lecture-2026

Everyone is very welcome.

SDG & AI+ Academic Conferences 2026 |
Submit papers by Sunday 31 May 2026

Two non-profit, peer-reviewed academic conferences focusing on SDG and AI+ will be held in Cambridge in summer 2026. Both events are organised by UniHive and hosted by Clare Hall and Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge.

Professor David Cope (Foundation Fellow at Clare Hall) and Professor Pietro Liò (Professorial Fellow at Clare Hall) will act as the Academic Chair of each conference.

Find more information here.

Research Participant Recruitment – Class & Romantic Relationships |
Join by Sunday 31 May 2026

Elle Shea, Clare Hall alumna and PhD researcher at the University of Manchester, is studying how people navigate differences in social class backgrounds, experiences, and identities within romantic relationships. She is looking to interview individuals or couples who are currently, or have previously been, in a romantic relationship with someone from a different social class background. Participants must be aged 18 or over and currently live in, or have previously lived in, England.

     If you are interested in taking part or would like to find out more about the research, please contact Elle at elle.shea@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk. You can also find out more about the researcher here.

Life Member’s LEGO® Project |
Support idea by February 2026

Life Member Chu-Cheng Lin (PhD 2016–2021; now a postdoctoral researcher in Zoology/PDN) has created a detailed biological laboratory built from LEGO, inspired by his work in cancer cell biology, neurobiology, molecular biology and entomology.

The project is currently on the LEGO Ideas platform and needs support to reach the 10,000 votes required for official review (now at ~2,000). If successful, it could become a real commercial LEGO set, helping bring the world of scientific research to a wider audience.

👉 Learn more and support the project:
https://beta.ideas.lego.com/product-ideas/ab52d2c2-0688-48e7-a7d1-77ae54a6aa4b

Every vote helps increase visibility and bring this unique scientific model closer to reality. Below is just a part of the whole project.

➢ Activities and Societies

Pilates Sessions: Easter 2026 |
Mondays and Fridays, 13 April – 15 June 2026

We are delighted to host pilates classes at Clare Hall throughout the Easter Term. The classes will be held on Mondays during lunchtime and fortnightly on Friday evenings. Pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that aims to strengthen muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

STRONG by Zumba sessions: Easter 2026 |
Tuesdays, 14 April – 16 June 2026

Clare Hall is delighted to host a new fitness class called STRONG by Zumba in the Easter Term. The classes will be held on Tuesdays, 5-5.45pm, in the Richard Eden Suite.

STRONG by Zumba combines body weight, muscle conditioning, cardio and plyometric training moves synced to original music that has been specifically designed to match every single move. Every squat, every lunge, every burpee is driven by the music, helping you make it to that last rep, and maybe even five more.

Please bring your own mat and a water bottle, and plan to arrive 5–10 minutes early to assist with setting up the room.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

Yoga Sessions: Easter 2026 |
Thursdays and Sundays, 19 April – 14 June 2026

We are delighted to host regular Thursday lunchtime and Sunday afternoon yoga sessions in the Easter term. Yoga is a holistic mind–body practice that combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to promote strength, flexibility, and inner balance.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

Brazilian Dance and Martial Arts Workshops |
Friday 24 April – Saturday 25 April 2026

It is time to celebrate Tiradentes, a Brazilian revolutionary leader against the 1700s’ Portuguese rule! Emilie Herpain, Clare Hall student, invites you all to a special few days full of Brazilian events – Forro, Capoeira, and Jiu Jitsu!

Sign up here!

BODIES: Discover Movement Through Contemporary Dance |
Saturday 2 May 2026, 3pm

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the dance workshop organised by Lisa Valentini, PhD student and GSB Green Officer, in collaboration with GSB Sport and GSB Welfare.

Event reserved to Clare Hall affiliates. In case you are no longer able to participate, and for any other question, please contact Lisa at lv390@cam.ac.uk.

Clare Hall Book Club |
Monday 4 May 2026, 8pm

Join the College’s Book Club as they discuss Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon. All College members are welcome to attend in-person, meeting in Clare Hall’s King Room, or via Zoom. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, please send an email to gloria.carnevali@icloud.com, confirming your Clare Hall connection and putting the following as the email title: I would like to join the Book Club mailing list.

Learn more about the Book Club on this page.

Choir Practice |
Various Dates

A reminder that Clare Hall Choir practice takes place in Robinson College Chapel every Monday (in term-time, but not always restricted to the official Cambridge term dates) from 7.30-9pm. New members are always welcome, and no previous singing or musical experience is necessary. The only requirement is that you want to sing and have fun doing it! If you are interested in joining, please email Ben de Souza, the Choir’s Director, who is a Clare Hall Associate, freelance choral conductor and accordionist: bd402@cam.ac.uk.

Recent recordings of the choir can also be found on our YouTube channel.

Clare Hall Families |
Various Dates

Clare Hall Families is an informal group that holds events throughout the year, centred around our popular Family Suppers, which take place each term.

Join the Clare Hall Families mailing list and WhatsApp group by filling out the form.

For any enquiries, please contact Chandy Nath at chandy.nath@gmail.com.

Find a full range of events at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/events