CODEBREAKERS AND
GROUNDBREAKERS 24 October 2017 – 4 February 2018
EXHIBITION & EVENTS The Fitzwilliam Museum • Cambridge
FREE ADMISSION
Michael Ventris © Mycenaean Epigraphy Group, Faculty of Classics, University of Cambridge • A passport photograph of Alan Turing (unknown date) Reproduced by kind permission of King’s College Library, Cambridge. Formerly assembled by the Alan Turing Trust
24 October 2017 – 4 February 2018 FREE • Gallery 10 This pioneering and interdisciplinary exhibition will bring together for the first time the remarkable intellectual achievements and parallel narratives of two groups of codebreakers working at the same time, but independently: those involved in breaking the Second World War codes and those who deciphered the ancient script of Linear B – Europe’s earliest comprehensible writing system. In a display including an Enigma machine, a rare loan from GCHQ, and unique archival documents held at the University of Cambridge and elsewhere, the exhibition will explore and celebrate the genius of Second World War codebreakers such as Alan Turing and Bill Tutte; as well as Michael Ventris and John Chadwick (himself a Bletchley codebreaker) who deciphered Linear B. It will enable visitors to try codebreaking for themselves too. A complementary display will also be running over the same period at the Museum of Classical Archaeology. For more information visit www.classics.cam.ac.uk/museum
TERRA FIRMA
Image © Sahej Rahal
24 October 2017 – 4 February 2018 FREE • Gallery 8 Artist Pallavi Paul’s installation considers the mechanics and practices of truth production. The central motif of the ‘secret’ invites visitors to engage with ideas of espionage, secrecy and the world of information by viewing, reading and walking on this artwork. This textual landscape, composed visually to look like code, responds to the Codebreakers and Groundbreakers exhibition. Terra Firma is co-commissioned by University of Cambridge Museums and Wysing Arts Centre with support from Diversity Art Forum.
CAMBRIDGE CODEBREAKERS: THE LAST SECRET Most Saturdays during November 2017 to February 2018 Suitable for ages 18+ £15 • Duration 2 hours BOOKING ESSENTIAL www.museums.cam.ac.uk/whats-on/codebreakers Take part in a codebreaking adventure game across four of the University of Cambridge Museums. The Last Secret is designed to give you a live action gaming experience you’ll never forget. Help the Cambridge Codebreakers decipher a letter written in a mysterious code. Crack the code using a series of artefacts spread out across disciplines, space and time, before the answers are lost forever. With a live leaderboard, cryptic clues, surprise challenges and roaming characters you will have to be curious, cooperative and clever to come out on top. Ideal for groups of 2- 6. No prior knowledge of codebreaking is necessary. Bring a charged smartphone with a data plan. Developed in partnership with Fire Hazard Games
LUNCHTIME TALKS 13.15 – 14.00 • FREE • Seminar Room Admission is by token, 1 per person, available at the Courtyard Entrance from 12.45 on the day of the talk. Induction loop available.
Curators’ introduction to CODEBREAKERS AND GROUNDBREAKERS Wednesday 25 October (with repeat talk at 15.00) Dr Anastasia Christofilopoulou (Fitzwilliam Museum), Dr Yannis Galanakis (Faculty of Classics) & Dr James Grime (Mathematician and Public Speaker).
Terra Firma: a conversation with Pallavi Paul Friday 27 October Artist Pallavi Paul, in conversation about her new work Terra Firma on display in the Museum. The work is an artistic response to ideas of truth, secrecy and espionage. Find out more about the stories and motivations behind this exciting project.
Reading Between the Lines: the worlds of linear B Thursday 2 November Professor John Bennet, a contributor to the Codebreakers exhibition catalogue.
Gendering Decryption – Decrypting Gender
A short history of encryption from Caesar to Enigma Wednesday 13 December Dr Julian West, GCHQ
Discovering writing in Bronze Age Greece Wednesday 24 January Dr Yannis Galanakis (Faculty of Classics)
Enigma machine courtesy of Simon Singh
Wednesday 29 November Annie Burman, Faculty of Classics
SPECIAL EVENT Alan Turing and the Enigma machine A presentation by James Grime Saturday 11 November 14.30 – 15.30 West Road Concert Hall 11 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP Suitable for adults and young people aged 16+ £7 (£5 concessions and Friends) BOOKING ESSENTIAL Visit: www.cambridgelivetickets.co.uk or tel: 01223 357851 Can we build a machine that can solve any problem? How can we break a code others believe to be unbreakable? Why do leopards have spots and zebras have stripes? These very different questions in science were all answered by Alan Turing - one of our great 20th century mathematicians, the father of computer science, and most famous as a Second World War codebreaker. We explore Turing’s childhood fascination with maths and science and how it lead to these discoveries, and the breaking of the infamous Enigma cipher. Including a demonstration of an original Second World War Enigma machine! Dr James Grime is a mathematician and public speaker. He can be found touring the UK, and the world, giving talks about the history and mathematics of codes and codebreaking, or through his many maths videos on YouTube.
FAMILIES Family First Saturday 4 November 14.00 – 16.00 FREE • Drop-in On the first Saturday of the month join us for activities and art-making on the theme of Codebreakers. 30 minute family tours leaving at 14.00 and 15.00 (recommended for children aged 5+) will also be running.
CHILDREN'S WORKSHOPS Script Detectives: decoding ancient writing Thursday 26 October 13.00 – 14.00 7 – 11 yrs FREE Museum of Classical Archaeology Ancient writings are effectively codes that we have been trying to 'break' for hundreds of years. Dr Pippa Steele, director of the CREWS Project (Contexts of and Relations between Early Writing Systems), explains how we decipher ancient inscriptions and shows you how to write your own secret messages in ancient scripts. Tickets available from Eventbrite - search the event title to book
Codes in clay Saturday 28 October 10.30 – 12.30 8 –12 yrs £8 per child BOOKING ESSENTIAL Tel: 01223 332904 or email: education@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk Visit the Codebreakers and Groundbreakers exhibition and then create your own message in clay, led by Dr Anna Judson and members of the CREWS project. Linear B tablet (detail) © The Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
Staff at Bletchley Park, 1940 • By kind permission of the Bletchley Park Trust
YOUNG PEOPLE ReSource: Cryptic messages Saturday 18 November 11.00 – 13.00 13 –18 yrs £5 BOOKING ESSENTIAL Tel: 01223 332904 or email: education@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk Symbols and secrets have long been used by artists. Find out more in our Codebreakers and Groundbreakers exhibition, and join guest artist Susie Olczak to make your own coded artworks in mixed media.
MAKE! Secret agents Saturday 18 November 14.00 – 16.00 11 –13 yrs £5 BOOKING ESSENTIAL Tel: 01223 332904 or email: education@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk Codes and symbols have long been used by artists. Find out more in an undercover visit to the Codebreakers exhibition! Make your own secret code and hide it in your artwork. With guest artist Susie Olczak.
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 – 17.00 Sundays & Bank Holidays 12.00 – 17.00 Closed: Mondays The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RB • Tel: 01223 332900 Email: fitzmuseum-enquiries@lists.cam.ac.uk www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk HOW TO GET HERE By Bus The Uni 4 bus to and from Madingley Road Park & Ride and Addenbrooke’s Hospital stops outside the Museum (Mon–Fri). www.stagecoachbus.com By Car The area around the Museum is subject to vehicle restrictions and it is advisable not to travel by car, where possible. Nearest car parks: Grand Arcade off Downing Street, or Queen Anne, Gonville Place. Park and Ride information: www.parkandride.net More visitor information about Cambridge: www.visitcambridge.org Guided Tours For more information and to book contact Cambridge Tourist Information Centre. Tel: 01223 457574 or email: tours@cambridge.gov.uk. Group Visits For enquiries tel: 01223 332904 or email: education@fitzmuseum. cam.ac.uk. All groups must book at least 10 days in advance. Free facilitated visits are available for pre-booked school groups, tours must otherwise be self-guided. Access Use Courtyard Entrance for street level access. Fully accessible toilets and lift access to all floors. For large print, Braille information or further access enquiries, tel: 01223 332928 or email: fitzmuseum-access@lists.cam.ac.uk Cover images: Enigma machine courtesy of Simon Singh Linear B tablet (detail) © The Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
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