Firstsite

Firstsite is a visual arts organisation based in Colchester, Essex, which opened in 1993 as Colchester and District Visual Arts Trust, changing its name to Firstsite in 1995. Its current building was opened in 2011. It was the national Art Fund's Museum of the Year in 2021. The building Firstsite occupies as a tenant was designed by Rafael Viñoly and the freehold is retained by Colchester Council. The building is situated in Colchester's "Cultural Quarter" near The Minories, Colchester, fifteen Queen Street (a creative business hub), the Norman Colchester Castle, the Natural History Museum, Hollytrees Museum and Colchester's Roman Wall. Its exhibits are on a rolling six-monthly basis, starting with Camulodunum. It cooperated with Essex University to show South American art until 2013. Firstsite has no permanent art collection of its own. It was awarded the national Art Fund Museum of the Year prize in 2021. Firstsite is a registered charity under English law.