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 2 Oct, 6:00pm – 8:30pm- Promote Yourself: Adobe Express for Beginners 

Learn how to design eye-catching posters, social media adverts, and simple videos with sound and animation. This hands-on tutorial will guide you through using Adobe Express’s AI tools for images, alongside ChatGPT to plan and set up effective campaigns.

Discover where to find free assets—images, graphics, video, and sound—and leave equipped to create polished marketing materials with ease.

Bringing a laptop is advised, but not essential!

More information and to book tickets.

Thu 2 Oct, 7:00pm – 9:00pm – Build your own Silly Synthesiser!

Turn a hat into a drum machine, or a rubber ring into a synthesiser. Combine some with simple Arduino programming with arts and crafts to build your own DIY Ableton musical controller using knobs, buttons and even distance sensors.

No experience needed, all equipment provided.

More information and to book tickets.