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The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years

Tickets go live at 10am on 23 June

Somewhere in the Museum, a giant cat is asleep.

 

Not just any cat. A nine-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.

But this is not just a story about a cat. It’s about what happens when we pause. When we step outside of the noise and into spaces of wonder. When we let go of knowing exactly what we’re meant to feel and simply feel it.

This summer…

 

Step into a fantastical world with this in this world-premiere exhibition,

The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years.

Created with creative robotics studio Air Giants, this nine-metre-long inflatable robotic feline moves, shimmers with light and projects its dreams; inviting visitors of all ages to explore, interact and reflect on connection and care. Experience a playful blend of museum, theatre and dreamscape unlike anything you’ve seen before.

 

Coming Saturday 19 July 2025.

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. Created in collaboration with Air Giants, this is their most ambitious work to date and offers a chance for us to reimagine once again what a museum experience can be.

We can’t wait to see how people respond to this extraordinary being and we hope visitors of all ages feel a sense of connection and leave feeling moved, surprised and maybe even a little changed.”

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

“It has been a joy to work closely with the museum to develop this project. The collections have been a strong inspiration to the story we’ve created, as have the museum’s values of care and imagination.

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 AR 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...