firstsite partnership: a multi-million pound project to develop a stunning purpose-built venue for the contemporary visual arts in Essex.
art, centre, arts, firstsite, university of essex, essex university, essex, colchester
firstsite partnership: a new approach to the contemporary arts
Colchester's inspirational new centre for the visual arts, firstsite,
opened its doors in September 2011, with its first exhibition showcasing the
cultural and artistic heritage of the region and the town.
The University is a key partner of firstsite and supported the
development of the multi-million pound new facility from the outset.
Internationally-acclaimed architect Rafael Viñoly, who has recently
worked on the Battersea Power Station Masterplan, designed the building,
which provides purpose-built gallery spaces for major international
exhibitions.
Artist's impression of firstsite:newsite
The opening exhibition, titled Camulodunum after Colchester's pre-Roman
name, considers how we learn about history through cultural objects. It
showcases new commissions by international contemporary artists including
Danh Vo and Aleksandra Mir, alongside works by Barbara Hepworth, Henry
Moore, JMW Turner and Andy Warhol.
The new firstsite gallery includes a dedicated space for the University
to showcase elements of the unique Essex Collection of Art from Latin
America (ESCALA). Its opening display, Southern
Press, celebrates the importance of printmaking within the post-war artistic
production of Brazil, Chile and Paraguay, focusing on the works of 13
printmakers.
ESCALA is Europe's largest public collection of modern and contemporary
art from Latin America comprising more than 700 works. The University's
space in firstsite will enable us to make works from the Collection far more
accessible to the public.
firstsite also includes learning spaces for students and community
groups, a 190-seat auditorium, and a café and restaurant, MUSA, which is run
by the University's catering service Hospitality Essex.
The University has a wide-reaching commitment to the community and for
many years we have played a major part in the county's cultural life. Our
partnership with firstsite will enable us to expand our community outreach
work in the arts, particularly with school children and families, as well as
the exchange of ideas between our academics and the community through public
lectures, talks and debates.