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, fun and stylish products in our shop.
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Top picks
Exhibitions
Free
Claire Cansick: You and I Are Earth
14 October 2023 - 14 April 2024
What effect do we have on the landscapes around us? You and I Are Earth charts the devastating effects of climate change and the human impact on the environment across the world.
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Yuletide Wreath Making Workshop
16 December 2023
3:00 pm
Join artist and wildcrafter Lora Aziz to create your very own Yuletide wreath from locally sourced foliage.
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Free
Wyrd Flora, YAK and Motanafas Collective: Power of Place: Earth, Gather, Form
04 November 2023 - 14 January 2024
Ranging from the saltmarshes of Essex’s Colne estuary to the Sinai mountains of Egypt, the landscape has a huge effect on us. It shapes our sense of place, identity and connection with nature. ‘Power of Place: Earth, Gather, Form’…
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Knitting for Newbies with Clare Sams
10 December 2023
Multiple times available
Learn how to knit festive table table settings in our special festive Knitting for Newbies.
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Weekly Watercolour for Beginners with Justine Moss
07 December 2023
Multiple times available
Join our weekly group for watercolourists of all levels where you will be introduced to the materials, techniques and colour
theory to develop your paintings.
Cinema
The Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker
17 - 21 December 2023
Multiple times available
Discover the enchantment of ballet with this sparkling festive treat for the whole family.
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Boozy Brushes
15 December 2023 - 16 February 2024
Multiple times available
Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes – our New Multi-Art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza!
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Air Dry Clay Workshop For Ages 8-16 yrs – Winter Decorations
03 December 2023
10:30 am
This is a fun and exciting opportunity to get your children into the festive spirit and create special and unique clay winter decorations to be treasured.
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Candle Making Festive Workshop
08 December 2023
Multiple times available
A fun, relaxing two-hour workshop to guide you through the process of making your own hand-poured scented candle to take home.
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National Theatre Live: Skylight
10 December 2023
Multiple times available
Returning to the big screen after nearly ten years, Bill Nighy (Living) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) feature in the critically acclaimed revival of David Hare’s play Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry (The Audience).
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The Royal Opera House: The Winter’s Tale
26 May 2024
1:45 pm
Shakespeare’s profound story of love and loss, artfully adapted into a contemporary three- act narrative ballet by Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon.
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Free
First Thursdays
07 December - 02 November 2023
Multiple times available
Come out and experience some of the fantastic local artistic talent which we have on offer! There is creativity around every corner on the first Thursday of every month.
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Hic Sumus and Friends Festive Concert
22 December 2023
6:45 pm
Join us for a festive evening of live music, poetry reading and performance with Hic Sumus Choir and friends!
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Late Lounge @ Firstsite
01 - 08 December 2023
Multiple times available
Join us for late cocktails and strange happenings in our late night lounge. Ambient DJ’s create a sonic backdrop to a bizarre, surreal and at times truly mystifying collection of performances.
Read moreCinema
National Theatre Live: Vanya
22 February 2024
7:00 pm
Andrew Scott brings multiple characters to life in Simon Stephens’ radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.
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S&B Festive Special
02 December 2023
6:00 pm
Join Amy and Megan from S&B Colchester in our café for a special evening of festive textile crafting to decorate your home with this winter!
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André Rieu’s White Christmas
02 - 09 December 2023
Multiple times available
For many, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. This year it will come early with André Rieu’s White Christmas cinema special.
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Dragonfly Lounge Presents: Drag Quiz
02 December 2023
Multiple times available
Get ready for a dazzling night of wit, wisdom, and fierce competition at The Dragonfly Lounge with the fabulous Tracey Paper and Karmen Stretch!
Read moreCinema
Essex Girls
29 November 2023
Multiple times available
Flipping the “Essex Girl” trope, this coming-of-age film explores Black British girlhood and magical female friendships in 2009 Essex.
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Everyone Can Draw Festive Lunch
17 December 2023
Multiple times available
Join artist Samantha Barnes for Drawing Art Festive Lunch – a light-hearted, confidence-inducing workshop including delicious food and drawing.
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Mark-making workshop with Lucy Scott
08 December 2023
Multiple times available
Try something spontaneous, immediate and mindful with this meditative workshop
Read moreExhibitions
Free
Opening Celebration | Lucy Harwood: Bold Impressions
01 December 2023
Multiple times available
Join us to celebrate the opening of our new exhibition, Lucy Harwood: Bold Impressions Be the first to experience the first major exhibition of Lucy Harwood’s work since 1975. Immerse yourself in the life and work of the late…
Read moreCinema
The Great Escaper
29 - 30 November 2023
Multiple times available
The Great Escaper celebrates enduring love but always with an eye to the lessons we might learn from the Greatest Generation.
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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

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
Party at Firstsite
Make the most of your visit
Latest news
Save cash and support the arts* – Firstsite launches Mosaic Membership scheme
21 November 2023
To coincide with the reopening of its upgraded cinema on Thursday 23 November, Firstsite is launching a membership scheme that will give culture lovers UNLIMITED FREE access to all its standard film screenings over a 12-month period, along with…
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