First Thursdays is a monthly festival with events throughout Colchester city centre organised by Creative Colchester.

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.

The festival will celebrate the city’s vibrant and diverse cultural scene, and will see venues across the city thrown open for the community, with fantastic performances, workshops and interactive experiences, all free to attend.

Find out more here

First Thursdays at Firstsite:

You can reserve your place at one of our events by booking your free ticket in advance. Or, if there is capacity you can just turn up and enjoy.

Thu 4 Dec, 6:00pm – 9:00pm- Traditional Indian Woodblock Printing

Discover the charm of Indian woodblock printing in this creative workshop led by artist and curator Vikas Garg.

Using hand-carved wooden blocks, participants will explore simple printing methods to produce their own unique greeting cards.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone interested in cultural craft practices, this workshop offers a warm, welcoming space to learn, make, and connect.

More information and to book tickets.

Thu 4 Dec, 6:30pm – 9:00pm – Mixed Media Art with Joe Boyd

Join us for an evening with Joe Boyd, where we’ll dive into the world of mixed media art.

Mixed media art & design workshop led by artist Joe Boyd (@thisisjoeboyd), during which you will produce an A3 poster using various hands-on techniques such as cut & paste, printing, collage and creating typography with unconventional materials.

This workshop invites participants to gain new insights and a deeper understanding into physical design techniques and become more confident in experimentation. The process will allow you to think outside the box, and add an extra layer of creativity to your practice.

More information and to book tickets.