Murray Edwards College in Cambridge houses a free, year-round public collection of modern and contemporary art by women. Described as one of the city’s best-kept cultural secrets, it places works by major artists including Maggi Hambling, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley and Tracey Emin throughout the college, making art accessible in an informal educational setting.

The collection began with Mary Kelly’s 1986 work Extase and expanded after artists were invited to donate pieces that would remain on display for students, researchers and visitors. It now contains more than 600 works by over 300 artists, combining internationally recognised figures with lesser-known names and reflecting the college’s history as a pioneering institution for women’s education.