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 BookBecome a Mosaic Member
Get unlimited free access to cinema screenings, and incredible discounts on workshops, talks and our shop and cafe
Join Today
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.
Read moreCourses, 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.
Read moreExhibitions
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!
Read moreExhibitions
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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCourses, 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.
Read moreCourses, 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!
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCourses, 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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreExhibitions
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.
Read moreFestive 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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreFestive 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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCinema
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!
Read moreCinema
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!
Read moreCinema
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!
Read moreCinema
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.
Read moreCelebrate 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.
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 todayExplore 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…
Read more