First for everyone
See the world differently – experience the very best art and culture from around the world that inspires, empowers and opens your mind.
An international gallery and creative community space, Firstsite is open all year round, for free, for everyone.
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Top picks
Exhibitions
Free
Antony Gormley: Field for the British Isles
16th November 2019 - 8th March 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Experience this vast and iconic artwork at Firstsite, celebrating community, individuality and togetherness. Field for the British Isles, which consists of 40,000 tiny individual terracotta figures, is the largest single artwork in the Arts Council Collection and its arrival…
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Branagh Theatre Company: The Winter’s Tale
21st - 29th December 2019
Multiple times available
Another chance to see Shakespeare’s timeless tragicomedy of obsession and redemption, reimagined in a new production co-directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh. Originally broadcast live from London’s Garrick Theatre, following their triumphant staging of Macbeth in Manchester and…
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Free
Super Black
11th October 2019 - 12th January 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
In the first of its brand-new series of Arts Council Collection National Partner exhibitions, Firstsite is staging Super Black – an exhibition that asks, ‘What does it mean to be black in England today?’. Led by people from Essex’s…
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Frozen 2
20th December 2019 - 5th January 2020
Multiple times available
Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll set out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In Frozen, Elsa feared her powers were…
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Art Class: Life Drawing and Painting (intermediate to advanced)
10th December 2019
Multiple times available
Join artist Sally Delany to discover life drawing and painting. Working from a life model, you will study methods of how to represent the human form with both drawing and painting techniques – using pencil, charcoal and acrylics. This…
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Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker (encore)
17th - 28th December 2019
Multiple times available
The Royal Ballet’s glorious production of The Nutcracker, created by Peter Wright in 1984, is the production par excellence of an all-time ballet favourite. It is Christmas Eve and Herr Drosselmeyer the magician sweeps young Clara away on a…
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Free
Chance & Control: Art in the Age of Computers – Created by the V&A – touring the nation.
26th October 2019 - 26th January 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Since the 1960s, artists and programmers have used computers to create prints, drawings, paintings, photographs and digital artworks. ‘Chance and Control’ draws on the V&A’s rich international collection of computer-generated art and includes work by pioneering digital artists such…
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Free
What’s the problem? A YAK & flyingleaps exhibition
5th October 2019 - 12th January 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Climate change, politics, rights, capitalism and health – these are the pressing issues facing young people today, according to Young Art Kommunity (YAK), Firstsite’s young people peer-led group which organises events and activities within the gallery and the wider…
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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.
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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.
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Latest news
Welcome to the new Firstsite website!
15th October 2019
We hope you enjoy this new colourful site designed to represent the fun and creativity which happens at Firstsite.
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