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.
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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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What's on
Top picks
Exhibitions
Free
Lunar Lullabies
08 June - 06 October 2024
Join Colchester’s own Jane Taylor on a celestial adventure, inspired by her timeless poem, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
Read moreCinema
Inside Out 2
26 July - 07 August 2024
Multiple times available
Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is introducing new emotions!
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 moreCourses, Clubs & Classes
Drag Life Drawing with Sirena Hart
02 March - 05 October 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 moreCinema
Andre Rieu’s 2024 Maastricht Concert: Power of Love
31 August - 01 September 2024
Multiple times available
Overflowing with passion, Andre Rieu’s 2024 Maastricht Concert: Power of Love combines classical, musicals, pop and rock!
Read moreCourses, Clubs & Classes
Life Drawing with Justine Moss – all levels
14 September 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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Printmaking by Hand
28 July - 17 September 2024
Multiple times available
Explore low tech printing methods like dry point etching, Lino cutting, mono printing, impression printing and more.
Read moreChildren & Families
Free
Holiday Fun: Summer 2024 – Skateboarding
08 - 30 August 2024
Multiple times available
Our Holiday Fun Skateboarding sessions are back this summer! Learn new skills, get active and make some new friends!
Read moreCourses, Clubs & Classes
Nature drawing workshop with Lisa Temple-Cox
25 August 2024 - 23 March 2025
Multiple times available
Explore observational drawing and discover your favourite medium with this nature drawing workshop.
Read moreCinema
A Quiet Place: Day One
27 July - 01 August 2024
Multiple times available
Experience the day the world went quiet. A Quiet Place: Day One shows how the invasion begun and led to the world we know it to be.
Read moreCinema
blur: Live at Wembley Stadium
06 - 07 September 2024
Multiple times available
Wondering what happened at the show that was being planned in blur: To The End? blur: Live At Wembley Stadium brings that experience to you!
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Colchester Pride 2024
17 August 2024
Multiple times available
Colchester Pride is back with a fabulous bang this summer, for its 7th year at Firstsite!
Read moreCourses, Clubs & Classes
Boozy Brushes
16 August 2024 - 14 March 2025
Multiple times available
Join Sirena Hart for Boozy Brushes at Firstsite – our New Multi-Art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza!
Read moreCourses, Clubs & Classes
Drawing Urban Environments with Jordan Cook
09 November 2024
10:00 am
Learn what it means to become a true psychogeographer by taking a ‘drift’ around Firstsite, with Jordan Cook’s Drawing Urban Environments.
Read moreCinema
Edward Scissorhands: Matthew Bourne’s Dance Version
26 - 29 September 2024
Multiple times available
Edward Scissorhands: Matthew Bourne’s dance version of Tim Burton’s classic has carved a place in the hearts of audiences worldwide.
Read moreChildren & Families
Free
Holiday Fun: Summer 2024 – Canteen
30 July - 31 August 2024
Multiple times available
Enjoy freshly made hot meals for all the family at Firstsite’s canteen in Colchester town centre.
Read moreCinema
Kinds of Kindness (Captioned)
27 July 2024
7:00 pm
Kinds of Kindness is a triptych fable, following three people living extraordinary lives and their determination to find their better life.
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 moreCinema
The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake
27 February - 02 March 2025
Multiple times available
The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake combines Tchaikovsky’s score with incredibly creative choreography and designs.
Read moreCinema
National Theatre Live: Prima Facie
12 - 20 September 2024
Multiple times available
Tony award-winning Prima Facie, shows Tessa a brilliant barrister who is forced to confront the lines of patriarchal power.
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
National Theatre Live: Present Laughter
04 August 2024
Multiple times available
The multi award-winning production of National Theatre Live: Present Laughter, provocative comedy, returns to the big screen.
Read moreTalks & Events
Astronomy After Dark for Enthusiasts
14 September 2024
Multiple times available
Explore the wonders of space, at Firstsite’s Astronomy After Dark for Enthusiasts with the Tiptree Stargazers!
Read moreChildren & Families
Lunar Space Family Voyage
14 September 2024
Multiple times available
Explore the wonders of space, at Firstsite’s Lunar Space Family Voyage for Families experience with the Tiptree Stargazers!
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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
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
A temporary change to accessing some areas of Firstsite
12 July 2024
Starting 16 July, the walkway around our cinema will be closed from Tuesday to Friday between 10am-5pm for about two weeks. This is to allow the installation of new LED lighting as part of our Firstsite Shining project…
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