Firstsite in Colchester has secured £995,000 in funding to upgrade its facilities and expand its creative offerings. The investment, announced on 14 April 2026, will support building improvements while ensuring the venue remains open to the public.
The money was provided by Arts Council England as part of a national government package worth £127.8 million, which is intended to support 130 cultural venues across the country. The funding at the Colchester site will specifically deliver three major updates: the installation of climate-controlled galleries to host higher-quality exhibitions, a new immersive digital space in Gallery 1, and a full upgrade to the building’s management systems to improve long-term energy efficiency.
Director Sally Shaw MBE, who has led the gallery since 2016, noted that the investment is a significant step forward for the institution. The gallery, which occupies an iconic crescent-shaped building that opened in 2011, has seen a major turnaround in its fortunes over the last decade, including winning the Art Fund Museum of the Year award in 2021.
Work on these improvements is set to begin later in 2026. The gallery has confirmed that the project will be carefully managed in phases to ensure that visitors can continue to access the building and its exhibitions while the work is carried out.
This funding is part of a broader government commitment led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to protect local cultural infrastructure. By modernising these facilities, the project aims to keep the venue a vital part of the community for years to come.
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