# Event Details

- **Event Name**: The Struggle for Light
- **Event Start and End Date**: Mon, 24 Aug, 2026 at 10:00 am – Sun, 30 Aug, 2026 at 06:00 pm (+01:00)
- **Event Description**: The Struggle for Light is a powerful new immersive exhibition created by The Glasshouse Artists, a community of artists brought together by Annabel Lee in collaboration with the University Herbarium and the Cambridge University Botanic Garden Learning Team.

Inspired by the remarkable but little-known work of 19th-century artist, writer and scientist Mary Merrifield, the exhibition explores creativity, resilience and the challenges women have faced in pursuing artistic careers across generations.

The project began with a simple question: Why did Mary Merrifield choose to paint and collect seaweed? Looking to her pioneering ideas on women’s freedom and dress reform, The Glasshouse Artists imagine seaweed as a symbol of movement, possibility and liberation – a striking contrast to the social constraints placed on Victorian women. Merrifield’s determination to balance artistic ambition with domestic expectations continues to resonate with the experiences of women artists today.

Step inside an atmospheric Victorian sitting room, reimagined through sculpture, lighting, sound and specially commissioned creative writing. At the heart of the installation, large transparent tanks filled with aquatic plants evoke the Botanic Garden’s glasshouses and waterways. Reaching towards the light, the plants weave around sculpted figures representing Mary Merrifield, her descendants and generations of women artists, creating a powerful visual metaphor for perseverance, growth and the pursuit of creative recognition.

Throughout the space, botanical imagery appears in unexpected places – from hidden details woven into wallpaper and textiles to striking artworks displayed around the room – inviting visitors to look closely and uncover the many layers of the story.

Created by The Glasshouse Artists, the exhibition celebrates the power of creativity, collaboration and community, while shining a light on the stories of women whose artistic contributions deserve to be better known.

The Struggle for Light exhibition will take place in the Syndicate Room in Brookside and is free with normal Garden admission.

Visit: https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/whats-on/the-struggle-for-light-art-exhibition/
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/cambridge/the-struggle-for-light/200030581486857
- **Event Categories**: Art, Exhibitions, literary-art
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 0

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Cambridge
- **state**: EN
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: 1 Brookside, CB2 1JE Cambridge, United Kingdom
- **lat**: 52.19514
- **long**: 0.12317
- **full address**: 1 Brookside, CB2 1JE Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cambridge, United Kingdom

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: The Struggle for Light
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/218ec2538add2b23c1d75f18393f370ae44424e34ee2aa4d3972bcdfdf450546-rimg-w1200-h675-dcc8c8b8-gmir?v=1787108096

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is The Struggle for Light being held?
  - **A:** The Struggle for Light takes place on Mon, 24 Aug, 2026 at 10:00 am to Sun, 30 Aug, 2026 at 06:00 pm at 1 Brookside, CB2 1JE Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- **Q**: Who is organizing The Struggle for Light?
  - **A:** The Struggle for Light is organized by Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
- **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me?
  - **A:** The Struggle for Light is ideal for art lovers, trade professionals, collectors, and exhibition enthusiasts exploring the latest in their field. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Cambridge, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If The Struggle for Light sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast.

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