Primary is an artist-led contemporary visual arts organisation. We prioritise artistic research, provide studios and residencies to artists, and run a free public programme of exhibitions and events.

We believe that artistic research is a public process, so we encourage participation in artistic production. We’ve established an engaged and outward-looking community which supports artists to experiment and develop their practice. We provide high quality studios and workshops for over 40 resident artists, alongside a free programme of exhibitions and events which are open to everyone, and we’re home to an ever-growing garden and the award-winning Small Food Bakery. We’ve transformed a disused school in an inner-city area of Nottingham into a new cultural resource, supported by Nottingham City Council, Arts Council England, and a range of trusts and foundations.

Primary’s approach to programme is to invest in artistic research and learning through participation and engagement. Each year we deliver a programme of commissions, regular learning and community events, and platforms for conversation and knowledge exchange; and by employing a cycle of theory, practice, and reflection across all of this activity, we create collaborative relationships between artists, audiences, and the wider community that surrounds us.

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