Please help us stay fantastic, fun and free
We are reopening on Thursday 3 December! In the meantime discover inspiring, fun and free content online to help keep your brain fresh and think differently.
Please, if you can, support us with a donation to help us continue to deliver new exhibitions, activities and events to uplift us all.
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What's on
Top picks
Talks & Events
Festive Fun: Ice Skating
4th - 23rd December 2020
Multiple times available
Raise your spirits with a fantastic festive treat this December, at our open-air synthetic ice skating rink!
Read moreChildren & Families
Free
Holiday Fun Winter 2020: Canteen
5th - 31st December 2020
Multiple times available
Children and their caregivers can dine-in at the Firstsite canteen and enjoy a hot and nutritious lunch – free for any family who feels they would benefit.
Read moreChildren & Families
Free
Holiday Fun Winter 2020: Takeaway Meals
5th - 31st December 2020
Multiple times available
Children and their caregivers can pick up a hot, healthy and delicious meal from Firstsite to take home with you, free for any family who feels they would benefit.
Read moreExhibitions
Free
@background_bob and his amazing friends
24th October 2020 - 31st January 2021
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Coming soon to Firstsite, an uplifting exhibition featuring artworks from artists across the world, brought together by @background_bob.
Read moreChildren & Families
Free
Holiday Fun Winter 2020: Move activities
5th - 31st December 2020
Multiple times available
Keep the kids active with ice skating on our outdoor rink and movement activities with Colchester United football coaches.
Read moreExhibitions
Free
My name is not Refugee
3rd December 2020 - 21st February 2021
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
An Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme Exhibition Discover a new view of life in Britain, in an exhibition of artworks chosen by a group of refugees and asylum seekers living in Colchester. Over the past year a group…
Read moreCinema
Exhibitions
Free
Mark Titchner: Some questions about Colchester
13th March 2020 - 1st March 2021
Artist Mark Titchner has produced a new series of public artworks across Colchester, entitled ‘Some questions about Colchester’, which are placed in the windows of vacant shop units around the town centre. This follows on from Mark‘s exhibition at…
Read moreCinema
Royal Opera House: The Nutcracker
12th - 23rd December 2020
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…
Read moreExhibitions
Free
Rachel Spender: Essex Saltmarsh from the Air
3rd December 2020 - 14th March 2021
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
See our local landscape from a different perspective in an exhibition of black and white photographs of Essex saltmarshes by Essex based artist and photographer, Rachel Spender. Taken using film cameras from a small aeroplane and hand printed in…
Read moreCinema
A Christmas Carol (2020)
18th - 31st December 2020
Multiple times available
A Christmas Carol follows a Victorian family as they prepare a toy-theatre for their annual performance of A Christmas Carol. Enter their imagination as the cardboard stage transforms to reveal a magical world containing real dancers and stylised sets….
Read moreExhibitions
Free
Phyllida Barlow
24th July 2020 - 17th January 2021
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
This presentation of Phyllida Barlow’s sculptures in our Welcome Area leads our reopening following the imposed lockdown due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
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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
We reopen Thursday 3 Dec!
30th November 2020
We are thrilled to announce that we reopen this week!From Thu 3 Dec our building is open daily from 10am – 10pm, with exhibitions, our cafe and shop open during the day, and our cinema and ice skating continuing…
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