Firstsite

Firstsite is one of the leading contemporary art galleries in the East of England and a major cultural destination in Colchester. Founded in 1994 and housed since 2011 in an award-winning crescent-shaped building designed by Rafael Viñoly, Firstsite presents ambitious exhibitions by both internationally acclaimed and emerging artists. While its programme has featured figures such as Grayson Perry and Lubaina Himid, the organisation is equally committed to nurturing artists from Essex and across the East of England. Firstsite has no permanent collection, allowing it to focus on changing exhibitions, commissions, film, and community programmes. In 2021 it was named Art Fund Museum of the Year, the UK’s most prestigious museum prize.