About
Firstsite is Colchester's acclaimed contemporary visual arts gallery, housed in a striking purpose-built building whose extraordinary golden crescent form has become an icon of Colchester's cultural regeneration. Opened in 2011 after a major investment of public and lottery funding, Firstsite represents the ambition of Britain's oldest recorded town to reclaim its place at the forefront of contemporary culture.
Designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the building is immediately distinctive — a curved, zinc-clad structure that echoes the form of the great Roman circus that once occupied this part of ancient Camulodunum (the original capital of Roman Britain). The golden exterior, which changes colour dramatically with the light, has won numerous architectural awards and transformed the conversation about contemporary architecture in Colchester.
The gallery programme is ambitious and adventurous, presenting the work of significant contemporary artists alongside community-engaged projects that connect with the diverse communities of Essex. Firstsite has a particular commitment to commissioning new work, supporting the development of artists' careers through residencies and commissions, and exploring the intersections between art, science, and social issues.
The permanent collection focuses on works related to Essex and the wider region, with a particular interest in the area's rich artistic heritage from John Constable and Gainsborough through to contemporary Essex-based practitioners. Temporary exhibitions change regularly and range from major touring shows to intimate presentations of local work.
Firstsite operates as a community anchor as well as a gallery, hosting an active events programme, café, and shop, and its open, welcoming atmosphere has established it as one of the most accessible and visited galleries in East Anglia.
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Highlights
Rafael Viñoly's Golden Crescent Building
Firstsite's award-winning building is one of the most architecturally distinctive contemporary art venues in England — a curved golden zinc structure whose crescent form references the Roman circus that once stood on this ground in ancient Camulodunum, the first capital of Roman Britain. The building's appearance transforms dramatically through the day as different light qualities alter the golden exterior, and its civic presence on the Lewis Gardens site has been credited with revitalising this part of Colchester's cultural landscape.
The structure is as much an artwork as a container for art.
Changing Contemporary Exhibition Programme
Firstsite presents a dynamic rolling programme of temporary exhibitions introducing significant contemporary artists from across Britain and internationally alongside carefully curated opportunities for Essex-based practitioners. The programme has included major touring shows, solo exhibitions exploring social and political themes, and presentations of newly commissioned works.
The gallery's willingness to take creative risks and present challenging art has earned critical respect alongside strong audience engagement across the region, establishing Firstsite as one of the most artistically ambitious galleries in East Anglia.
Community Engagement and Commissioned Art
A defining feature of Firstsite's programme is its deep commitment to community collaboration, creating participatory projects and commissioned artworks that emerge from genuine engagement with diverse communities across Essex. Projects have involved schools, care homes, refugee communities, and many other groups, producing work of real artistic quality that also carries profound social meaning.
The commissioning programme supports artists in developing ambitious new works specifically for Firstsite and its audiences, making the gallery a site of active artistic production rather than simply exhibition and display.
Essex Art Heritage
Firstsite's collection and periodic presentations explore the rich artistic heritage of Essex — a county more artistically significant than its reputation often suggests. The area produced John Constable (born in Dedham Vale on the Essex-Suffolk border), and the Colchester area has hosted important artists across centuries.
The gallery's collection and research programme investigate this heritage, creating connections between the contemporary work in the exhibition galleries and the longer traditions of art-making in the landscapes and communities of Essex.
Collections
Permanent Collection — Essex and Beyond
A selection of works from the Firstsite collection is displayed alongside temporary exhibition programming, exploring the artistic heritage of Essex and the wider region.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.