Welcome to Firstsite
Firstsite is Art Fund Museum of the Year 2021
See the world differently – experience the very best art and culture from around the world that inspires, empowers and opens your mind.
Enjoy our exhibitions, films and events.
Relax in our colourful cafe with outdoor seating and find quirky, fun and stylish products in our shop.
What's on
Top picks
Exhibitions
Free
The Singh Twins: Slaves of Fashion
7 May - 11 September 2022
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
See vast intricate and colourful artworks from internationally acclaimed artists, The Singh Twins. Delve into hidden details of Europe’s colonial past and its legacies, including current debates around ethical trade, responsible consumerism and decolonisation and racism.
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The Singh Twins in conversation
21 August 2022
3:00 pm
Please note that this event has been cancelled. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the artists are no longer able to do this talk. Those who have booked to attend will be contacted by our team to organise a refund. Join…
Read moreChildren & Families
Free
Holiday Fun Summer 2022: Canteen
25 July - 26 August 2022
Multiple times available
Enjoy freshly made hot meals for all the family over the Summer half term school holiday at Firstsite’s canteen in Colchester town centre.
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Free
Keep Being Amazing
22 January - 21 August 2022
Explore the ground-breaking Firstsite Holiday Fun programme through vibrant artworks in this interactive exhibition celebrating the fun, friendly and creative ethos of Holiday Fun and the families who attend.
Read moreCinema
National Theatre Live: Prima Facie
21 July - 8 October 2022
Multiple times available
Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) makes her West End debut in the UK premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning play.
Read moreExhibitions
Free
Simon Carter and Jevan Watkins Jones: Shore Lines
11 December 2021 - 4 September 2022
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Imagine two drawings by two artists drifting across a five-mile stretch of salt-water, merging and morphing on the surface as they meet. Artists Simon Carter and Jevan Watkins Jones collaborate in this collection of charcoal drawings inspired by their…
Read moreCinema
Glyndebourne’s La bohème
11 September 2022
7:00 pm
In La bohème Puccini elevates ordinary people to the level of the extraordinary, the tragic, the timeless –transformed by a score that has seduced generations of audiences
Read moreCinema
National Theatre Live: Much Ado About Nothing
8 - 25 September 2022
Multiple times available
The legendary hotel Messina on the Italian Riveria has been visited by artists, celebrities and royalty.
Read moreCinema
RSC: Richard III (Live)
28 September 2022
7:00 pm
Young Richard of Gloucester uses the chaos of the Wars of the Roses to begin his unscrupulous climb to power in this classic Shakespearean history of a king in the throes of jealousy and murder.
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Free
Rice and Spice Festival
10 September 2022
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Celebrate Colchester’s diverse community through food, music and performances at the town’s annual festival of Rice and Spice – including children’s activities, workshops and a huge variety of food stalls.
Read moreCinema
DC League Of Super Pets (Relaxed)
20 - 27 August 2022
Multiple times available
Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by side.
Read moreCinema
Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War
5 August - 8 September 2022
Multiple times available
ERIC RAVILIOUS: DRAWN TO WAR is a true story. Eric Ravilious is as compelling and enigmatic as his art.
Read moreCinema
Kino Dreams: Paris, Texas
3 September 2022
4:30 pm
Travis Henderson, an aimless drifter who has been missing for four years, wanders out of the desert and must reconnect with society, himself, his life, and his family.
Read moreCinema
Minions: The Rise Of Gru (Relaxed)
30 July - 23 August 2022
Multiple times available
This summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled in Minions: The Rise of Gru.
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Hire Firstsite
Firstsite’s stunning architecture and versatile spaces creates a fun and inspiring venue for any event – from private parties to conferences, community meetings and presentations. Plus, by hiring our spaces you can support the local community as any profits go straight back into funding our exhibitions and outreach projects.
Find out more
Take a look at our shop
Featuring a range of design-led and affordable products, inspired by our exhibition programme, events and community, our shop has something for everyone. All profits from your purchase raises funds to help us keep our exhibitions free and supports our community outreach activities.
Explore shopMake the most of your visit
Latest news
Visiting the Firstsite Cinema – our customers’ feedback
2 June 2022
Over the past few months we have been asking our cinema audience for their feedback about their experience of our cinema. Thank you to everyone who has completed one of our surveys. Here’s an overview of the feedback…
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