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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Firstsite Holiday Fun: Feb Half Term 2020 | MUNCH
20th - 21st February 2020
Multiple times available
Enjoy a hot and nutritious lunch this February Half Term at Firstsite, with our Holiday Fun pop-up canteen. Free meals are available for families with a voucher – contact [email protected] 01206 713 707 for more info. Meals are served…
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Free
Unboxing Alex Frost
8th February - 19th April 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Unboxing Alex Frost is an exhibition of videos and sculptures made from products that feed our ‘on-the-go’ lifestyle, like frozen pizzas and supermarket sandwiches. It includes videos from Frost’s ‘Wet Unboxing’ series, in which meals, snacks, protein shakes, vitamin…
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John Ball: The Great Grandfather of English Socialism
12th March 2020
7:30 pm
Born outside Colchester in the decade before the Black Death, English Priest John Ball lead the first popular revolution in English history – the disparagingly and misleadingly entitled Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. The rebellion failed and Ball was executed,…
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Free
Harwich Holiday Fun: Feb Half Term | MOVE
21st February 2020
Multiple times available
Get moving in Harwich this February Half Term, with free multi-sports activities. Most suitable for those aged 4 – 11 yrs, but all ages welcome. Sports activities last 1 hour and take place outside. Please wear suitable clothing. Adults are…
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Harwich Holiday Fun: Feb Half Term | MUNCH
21st February 2020
Multiple times available
Enjoy a hot and nutritious lunch in Harwich this February Half Term. Free meals are available to families with a voucher. Contact Sue [email protected] or call 01206 713 700 for more info. Meals are served at 12pm. Please book in…
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Tours
Free
Exhibition Tours: Antony Gormley ‘Field for the British Isles’
24th February - 5th March 2020
Multiple times available
Learn more about one of artist Antony Gormley’s biggest artworks, Field for the British Isles, with exhibition tours from Firstsite’s Head of Programme, Stuart Tulloch, and Programme Manager for Communities, Emma Reeve. Stuart and Emma will be joined by…
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Art Class: Life Drawing for all abilities
25th February - 24th March 2020
Multiple times available
Led by Colchester Art Society artist Sally Delany, this 13 week course gives you the opportunity to work with a variety of media, including charcoal, pencil and pastels, to explore the human form. Drawing from clothed and nude models,…
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Free
Kevin Howbrook: Colour Coded
25th January - 22nd March 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Kevin Howbrook: Colour Coded is an exhibition of large-scale digital prints that show what familiar texts, like the ‘Bible’ or ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, look like if each word is represented by a colour. Kevin Howbrook is an artist…
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Tai Chi | Beginners
27th February - 2nd April 2020
Multiple times available
Increase your flexibility, improve your balance and help lower your stress and anxiety, with relaxing sessions of Tai-Chi at Firstsite. This traditional Yang Style 24 step Tai-Chi is taught on a continuous basis and learners will develop through the…
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Art Class: Clay Workshop for 13 to 17 Year Olds
8th March 2020
Multiple times available
Led by local artist Iris Gunnarsdottir and inspired by our current exhibition Field for the British Isles by Antony Gormley, this course gives you the opportunity to work with clay in a relaxed environment. You will receive individual tuition…
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Free
Afro Futures_UK: Unravelling New Futures
25th January - 19th April 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
An exhibition of digital and multimedia art, ‘Unravelling New Futures’ explores how the intersection of the black experience, technology and historical narratives can inspire new ways of thinking critically about the future. Through video, performance and sculpture, this exhibition…
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Free
Aidan Moesby | Sagacity: The Periodic Table of Emotions
15th November 2019 - 8th March 2020
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sagacity is a live and responsive installation based around the Periodic Table, reflecting the emotional state of its location. Its installation at Firstsite shows the current mood of our visitors, and will record the feelings of participants from November…
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Limitless | Junior Street Dance
25th February - 31st March 2020
Multiple times available
Breakdance skills for 8 – 14 year olds. Join the Limitless dancers Andi Mill and Isaac James to try out the basics of street dancing in a cool, fun and energetic environment. Please wear comfortable clothing – loose t-shirts,…
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Free
CLIP | Experimental Music and Sound Collective
24th February - 30th March 2020
Multiple times available
FREE Drop in – no booking required. CLIP is a weekly meet up for anyone with an interest in the more experimental side of music and sound. An opportunity for sonic exploration through collaboration, discussion, sharing ideas, jam sessions,…
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A Banana? At This Time of Night?
24th February 2020
7:30 pm
Afflicted by muscular dystrophy, Yasuaki (OIZUMI Yo) doesn’t let that slow him down. A charming and eternally positive man, he is determined to live an independent life and fulfil his dreams with the help of coerced volunteers Misaki (TAKAHATA Mitsuki) and Tanaka (MIURA Haruma). Based on a true story.
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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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Holiday Fun
Join us during the February half term for a fantastic free day out of art and movement based activities. Offered both in our gallery and in our Harwich venue.
You can also enjoy low cost hot lunches – families who receive free school meals can receive our meals for free.
Make the most of your visit
Latest news
Independent films at Firstsite
11th February 2020
Discover something new with independent film at Firstsite, spanning a diverse range of genres – from cult classics and revealing documentary, to offbeat comedy and emotional drama. Don’t miss out on our celebration of acclaimed Chilean-French director Alejandro Jodorowsky,…
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