If you are a cultural magpie who likes nothing better than wandering around galleries, hunting for art and craft supplies, or finding unique handmade treasures, you’ll have lots to explore in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Arts & Craft Sessions
Crafternoons with Debbie Bryan are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy your own creativity. Book a visit just for you or gather friends, family and colleagues and arrange a visit when best suits you! The venue is also a tea room, studio and shop displaying artisan crafts and local heritage items. They run monthly Crafternoons, which are an ideal choice for any craft lover.
As well as a working vineyard, Hanwell Wine Estate is also the home of Rural Antics: art, craft and rural skills workshops, perfect “creative spa” days! Choose from Foraging, Bentwood Chair Making, Oil Painting, Embroidery, Stained Glass, Bobbin Lace...the list goes on.
Nottingham Trent University run a range of courses throughout the year, including short courses and courses for kids. You can find a wide range of topics; from the artistic and creative to technical and specialist. View their upcoming courses on our What's On Calendar.
Arts & Crafts For Kids
The National Justice Museum often offer art & craft activities for kids during the school holidays. Their Make It Yours: Creative Workshops are free and open to all. Join them to make and create together and contribute to their growing museum! The sessions are led by artists, makers, and writers, all influenced by this unique museum.
Lakeside Arts run crafting sessions for kids at regular intervals, often coinciding with events and seasonal holidays such as the Chinese New Year. Visit their website to explore their upcoming workshops.
Nottingham Contemporary host various sensory and artistic workshops for kids during school holidays. Their workshops are usually free; however you must book a space for your session as spaces are limited.
Galleries
You’re never far away from a hub of creativity in Nottinghamshire, and there are some brilliant art galleries throughout the county to enjoy.
Galleries In Nottingham
In the city centre you can discover world-class modern art at Nottingham Contemporary. One of the largest galleries of contemporary art in the UK, the gallery hosts regular changing exhibitions of international art. Nottingham Contemporary is set in an iconic building, designed by the award-winning architects Caruso St John, in the heart of city centre. It is free to enter and is one of our top recommendations for visitors to Nottingham.
New Art Exchange is the largest art centre in the UK dedicated to culturally diverse arts. And the best part? Entry to exhibitions and events is free! Offering an exciting programme of culturally diverse arts for all, New Art exchange is located in Hyson Green, next to The Forest tram stop, less than ten minutes from the city centre. Across the venue’s three gallery spaces you will see an ever-changing series of exhibitions showcasing the work of world renowned British and international artists. Alongside the exhibitions run a series of events that includes film screenings, festival days, creative family activities, live performances and workshops. New Art Exchange also offer free activities and workshops for children, families and young people every Saturday morning and during school holidays.
Nottingham's Lakeside Arts is The University of Nottingham's unique public arts centre and museum presenting an eclectic programme of music, dance, theatre, visual art, special collections and family events all year round. Based in the idyllic grounds of Highfields Park with two excellent cafés and a gallery shop with craft cabinets selling original works by leading craftmakers, there’s a varied programme including free events and workshops for both families and individuals.
Founded in 1969, Bonington Gallery has been at the forefront of Nottingham’s rich and vibrant visual arts community for over fifty years. Situated at the heart of Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) School of Art & Design, the gallery's exhibitions and events are completely free to access, and open to the public. Past exhibitions have featured local, national and international artists, including Hetain Patel, Frank Stella, Tacita Dean, Permindar Kaur, Sonia Boyce, Isaac Julien, Steve McQueen, Glenn Ligon and Andrew Logan.
The Fletcher Gate Art Gallery is the centre for original fine art in Nottingham. Situated in a haven of stylish restaurants and cafes, we are within walking distance of the historical Lace Market and just a stones throw from The Nottingham Contemporary Gallery and the National Justice Museum. The gallery has a wide variety of original art ranging from local artists to artwork we have sourced, creating a diverse portfolio of art to appeal to aspiring collectors and meet the individual tastes of the existing clientele. Fletcher Gate Art Gallery's interests are broad, with the emphasis on inspirational, quality and aesthetically beautiful works.
Galleries Further Afield
In the north of the county, you’ll find lots of places that blend history, heritage and creativity, and you can easily spend the best part of a day exploring what they have to offer.
Patchings Art Centre is now in its third decade of promoting the enjoyment of art for everyone. With a year round art school programme of classes and workshops to suit a range of skill levels and ages, monthly exhibitions within their gallery spaces and events including a prestigious and nationally known Art Festival in July now in its 30th year. Visit Patchings and discover their Art Shop, Farmhouse Gift Shop, Framing Centre, Café, Galleries and not to mention their Woodland walks and Artists’ Trail, telling the story of art through 62 Glass framed paintings.
Situated in The Courtyard at Welbeck on the historic Welbeck estate, the award-winning Harley Gallery shows contemporary exhibitions by leading artists. Exhibitions change five times a year, and range from ceramics to photography. The Portland Collection, alongside The Harley Gallery, displays works of art from Welbeck’s significant historic collection, which has been amassed over more than 400 years by the Dukes of Portland and their families. It showcases treasures ranging from full-length oil paintings by great masters to one of the largest privately-owned collections of miniatures. The collection also includes books, letters, silverware, ceramics and furniture.
Thoresby Gallery was originally established in 1992 as a space in which to show the Pierrepont Collection. Over the years it has evolved into a busy gallery with an eclectic calendar of exhibitions. Thoresby Courtyard welcomes 80,000 visitors a year. Open six days a week 10.00am – 4.00pm the gallery always has something interesting to engage a wide audience. Thoresby Gallery’s Open Exhibitions have been encouraging local artists and providing a beautiful space in which to exhibit since the early days and now Thoresby are seeking to include all artists, both professional and amateur working in the area with regular opportunities to get involved.
To learn more about art galleries in Nottinghamshire and their upcoming exhibitions, please click here.
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