ADMISSION TO FIRSTSITE IS FREE

Open Tuesday – Sunday

See our opening times

Welcome to Firstsite!

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, workshops, films and events. Relax in our colourful cafe with outdoor seating and find quirky products in our shop.

See What's On and Book

 

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Get unlimited free access to cinema screenings, and incredible discounts on workshops, talks and our shop and cafe

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ADMISSION TO FIRSTSITE IS FREE

Open Tuesday – Sunday

See our opening times

What's on

Top picks

Exhibitions

Free

Jane Ostler: Finding the Hand of Kindness

12 October 2024 - 23 February 2025

“Finding The Hand of Kindness” is inspired by Jane’s own life, reflecting on her roles as a caregiver, the impact of patriarchal expectations, and the everyday moments of kindness. Through her art, Jane invites us to see how creativity can be a source of comfort and connection.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Drag Life Drawing with Sirena Hart

02 November 2024

Multiple times available

A one-of-a-kind life drawing class, where your tutor and model will offer multiple poses in fantastical settings.

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Exhibitions

Free

Opening Celebration | Leonora Carrington: Avatars & Alliances

25 October 2024

Multiple times available

Join us for a special evening event to celebrate the opening of ‘Avatars & Alliances’, Leonora Carrington’s debut exhibition in the East of England!

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Exhibitions

Free

Concrete Dreams: Just Can’t Get Enough

20 April - 10 November 2024

Presented 75 years after Basildon in Essex was designated a New Town, ‘Concrete Dreams: Just Can’t Get Enough’ reflects on the influence of the Britain’s post-war new town movement on cultural identity, and the impact of policy decisions on individual lives.

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Cinema

The Substance

25 - 31 October 2024

Multiple times available

Deliriously entertaining and ruthlessly satirical, Coralie Fargeat’s Cannes sensation, The Substance, turns toxic beauty culture inside out.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Life Drawing with Justine Moss – all levels

07 November 2024 - 15 March 2025

Multiple times available

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, gain confidence in drawing the figure, with these tutored life drawing sessions.

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Surrealism Poetry Workshop with Derek Adams

22 November 2024

7:30 pm

New to writing poetry or an experienced poet? Our Surrealism Poetry Workshop with Derek Adams will help you to revitalise your writing!

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Cinema

MET Opera Live: Il Barbiere di Siviglia

31 May 2025

5:45 pm

MET Opera Live 2024–25 season comes to a close with MET Opera Live: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini’s effervescent comedy. 

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Courses, Clubs & Classes

Nature drawing workshop with Lisa Temple-Cox

21 July 2024 - 23 March 2025

Multiple times available

Explore observational drawing and discover your favourite medium with this nature drawing workshop.

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Cinema

MET Opera Live: Grounded

19 October 2024

5:45 pm

Tony Award–winning composer Tesori’s new MET Opera Live: Grounded, wrestles with often-overlooked issues created by 21st-century war-making.

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Exhibitions

Free

Leonora Carrington: Avatars & Alliances

26 October 2024 - 23 February 2025

Step into the magical and mystical world of Leonora Carrington, the British-Mexican painter and novelist, in her debut exhibition in the East of England.

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Festive Workshops

Wreath Making

05 December 2024

7:00 pm

Join Firstsite this joyous season for a wreath making session where you will learn how to make an eco-friendly wreath for your front door.

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Cinema

200% Wolf

25 - 30 October 2024

Multiple times available

Heroic poodle Freddy Lupin has everything it takes to lead his werewolf pack, except respect. If only he were more… wolfish, like 200% wolf.

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Cinema

Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers

10 - 16 November 2024

Multiple times available

A century after acquiring its first Van Gogh works, the National Gallery is hosting Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers.

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Cinema

Rob Peace

18 - 26 October 2024

Multiple times available

Rob Peace grew up in an impoverished section of Newark living a dual life in academia earning degrees and selling on the streets…

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Cinema

Billy Elliot The Musical Live (20th Anniversary)

30 March - 02 April 2025

Multiple times available

Billy Elliot The Musical shows Billy’s journey from the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance.

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Cinema

Boonie Bears: Time Twist (Relaxed)

19 October 2024

11:00 am

Welcome to the Boonie Bears: Time Twist! Vick has his world turned upside down when an VIP client offers him the chance to change his life.

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Festive Workshops

Candle Decorating

01 December 2024

10:00 am

Relax this season at our Candle Decorating workshop. Celebrate the occasion with an enjoyable morning decorating your own festive candles.

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Cinema

National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest

20 February 2025

7:00 pm

Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy – The Importance of Being Earnest.

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Cinema

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

25 - 31 October 2024

Multiple times available

Beetlejuice is back in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home.

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Cinema

A Story of Bones

19 - 24 October 2024

Multiple times available

As the Environmental Officer for Saint Helena’s trouble airport project, Annina Van Neel learned of A Story of Bones on the island.

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Cinema

Black Dog

16 - 17 October 2024

Multiple times available

A man released from jail returns to his hometown and strikes up an unlikely connection with a Black Dog turning the page in life.

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Cinema

Kiss Me, Kate: The Musical

29 November - 01 December 2024

Multiple times available

Porter’s legendary Kiss Me, Kate: The Musical comedy has backstage shenanigans, Shakespearean sonnets, singing gangsters and a hot romance!

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Cinema

Andre Rieu’s 2024 Christmas Concert: Gold and Silver

07 - 08 December 2024

Multiple times available

Celebrate the holiday season with André Rieu’s 2024 Christmas Concert: Gold and Silver, exclusively in cinemas!

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Cinema

Shakespeare’s Globe presents Othello

06 - 14 November 2024

Multiple times available

Shakespeare’s Globe presents Othello, a critically-acclaimed production captured live during its run at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse!

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Cinema

Touch

11 - 17 October 2024

Multiple times available

After receiving a dementia diagnosis at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, widower Kristofer leaves behind his home in Touch…

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Cinema

The Royal Opera: Wolf Witch Giant Fairy

30 October 2024

2:00 pm

The Royal Opera: Wolf Witch Giant Fairy is an ‘enchantingly staged’ family folk opera, following the triumphant, Olivier Award-winning run.

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Two people puling crackers at Christmas parties

Celebrate Christmas with a fun and festive night at Firstsite

With its dramatic frontage and beautiful gallery spaces, Firstsite provides an unforgettable setting for your party

Firstsite is a registered charity; holding your Christmas party with us means
you are not only supporting the great exhibitions and social enterprises based here but you are also supporting the local community.

Wrap up Christmas!

Become a Mosaic Member today!

Enjoy a unlimited free access to our films and a whole host of special offers and generous discounts with a Firstsite Mosaic Membership.

As a treat for yourself – or a gift for someone else – being a Firstsite Mosaic Members provides a year of fantastic benefits, and helps to support art and creativity in East Anglia.

Join today
Selection of online shop products

Explore our online shop

Featuring a range of design-led products and books 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.

 

Shop online

Make the most of your visit

Latest news

Antiques Roadshow’s return to Essex after eight years will broadcast this Sunday

5 September 2024

  Press release:   The first episode filmed at Colchester’s Firstsite, will air Sunday 8 September on BBC One at 20.00 An episode of one of the BBC’s most celebrated programmes, Antiques Roadshow, will be broadcast this Sunday, featuring…

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Social posts

    Welcome area at Firstsite. 'Big Hello' (2018) Peter Liversidge. Photo by Jayne Lloyd.

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