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The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years

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Somewhere in the Museum, a giant cat is asleep…

Not just any cat. A 10-metre-long, inflatable robotic creature, still and dreaming. Shifting gently with light and movement. A being of imagination and care. A cat unlike any other.
This summer, step into the fantastical imaginary world of The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years.
This world-premiere exhibition, created in collaboration with robotics studio Air Giants, invites visitors of all ages to experience a playful blend of museum, theatre and dreamscape unlike anything you’ve seen at Manchester Museum before.
At the centre of this dreamscape sits the unique, cosmic cat. While it snoozes, you’ll be invited to give it a cuddle, softly stroke its ‘fur’ or just sit and spend time in its company, observing its behaviour and wondering why it came here.
And once you’ve finished your visit, head out into your Museum, where you’ll find a series of fun, free, cat-inspired activities throughout the summer, including an augmented reality trail.

Exhibition info

Dates: Saturday 19 July – Sunday 14 September 2025

Price: Free. Entry to the exhibition is free so that as many people can enjoy it as possible, but Manchester Museum is a charity and all donations go directly towards our work, so donating just £5 when booking your tickets could help to create even more of the experiences you love.

Age: Suitable for all ages. Please book tickets for everyone in your party, including little ones! This helps us manage the capacity of the space and ensures everyone can enjoy the experience.

Duration: Tickets are allocated in hourly timeslots but you are free to spend longer in the exhibition if you wish. You will be able to use your ticket any time during the time slot you’ve booked.

Accessibility: There is step-free access in all of our galleries. We have a lift in our Main Hall that will take you to the rest of our galleries.

Quiet Time sessions: Quiet Time sessions are available 8am-10am every Saturday for those who need it. Simply book a standard ticket within these times. There will be sensory activities also available during this time but please bear in mind the rest of the Museum will open at 10am.

Manchester Museum
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Air Giants

 

Air Giants is a pioneering creative robotics studio that designs and builds inflatable, pneumatically-controlled creatures, transforming spaces into powerful, immersive experiences.

With a perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship, the Air Giants team brings the creatures of imagination into the real world, delivering extraordinary visual experiences that captivate and inspire.

“We’re beyond excited to introduce this immense, dreamlike creature to Manchester Museum. We’re used to looking after animals, but this is truly unlike anything we’ve ever cared for before.”

– Georgina Young, Head of Exhibitions and Collections, Manchester Museum

“Our work uses a lot of technology, but the most important thing for us is the experience people have when meeting one of our creatures. It is awesome in the old-fashioned sense of the word! We’re hoping audiences will have a joyful connection to the cat and the story around it. We can’t wait for people to experience this magical and gentle exhibition in Manchester this summer.”

– Emma Powell, Creative Director, Air Giants

Cat's Out of the Bag

Saturday 19 July

Enjoy a first look at this dreamy new exhibition and get paws-on with a whole host of fun, free family activities.

Cat’s Out of the Bag

Find the Kittens: an augmented reality trail

19 July to 14 September

The Cat’s kittens have escaped and they’re sleeping in spots across the Museum, so we need your help to find them.

Find the Kittens: an AR trail

A Purr-fect Summer!

22 July to 29 August

This summer, with our programme of family activities inspired by all the cats around the museum, dreams and imagination take centre stage!

A Purr-fect Summer!

Coming soon...