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NORWICH ARTS CENTRE

Last updated: 12-04-2019
NORWICH ARTS CENTRE
Also Known As:
  • Premises
  • Norwich Community Arts Centre

Basic Information

Area:
  • Norwich, Norfolk, Uk
Category:
Venue
Opened/Closed:
1979 - PRESENT
Address:
51 ST BENEDICTS STREET

Twice listed as derelict in its lifetime, it is now the city’s most historic venue. Its origin goes back to 1975 when a group of people came together to campaign for a building that could provide Norwich with a place for contemporary art in all forms. The group called themselves Premises and for a while were homeless. They put on events at many different venues throughout the city, with a keen view to including the community in everything they did.

 

The St Swithin’s Church venue was acquired in 1979 and had previously been used as a furniture store. From here the venue has never looked back with an outstanding and diverse program of theatre, comedy, art and of course music.

 

A major chapter in the venue’s musical life began when a young volunteer told the centre they weren’t putting on the kind of music he liked. Barry Newman went on to run the Wilde Club at the Arts Centre for over 20 years, bringing bands like The Manic Street Preachers, Oasis, Blur, Pulp and Nirvana to Norwich. The club also spawned its own label which was championed by Radio One DJ, John Peel.

 

In 2000, with the aid of Lottery money, the centre underwent major refurbishment. Today it continues to provide the city with a whole host of cultural events and activities and is the home of the Norwich Sound and Vision festival.

 

NB: Early posters and brochures designed by Penny Manning

 

Timeline:

1975 - Idea for Arts Centre is born (It should be noted that a similar idea had been looked at in the late sixties with regards to the possible repurpose of the closed Chapel Field Congregational Church under the Norwich Arts Co-Op and before this the purchase of The Theatre Royal by the Norwich City Council from the Essoldo Group as a possible Civic Centre for mutipurpose use and arts events.)

 

APR 1976 - Norwich Arts Centre Committee formed

 

MAY 1976 - Crafts demonstration at St Andrews Hall

 

NOV 1976 - Public meeting to raise support (meeting place unknown)

 

DEC 1976 - Art auction fundraiser (venue unknown)

 

Premises Advert: General Manager required 07/04/78

Premises Advert: 1st August 78 to 8th August 78 closed for holidays

 

 

 

Chairman / MD

APR 76 - JAN 77 Nicky Whitworth

JAN 77 - Richard Denyer

?? - Pam Reekie

?? - Stuart Hobday

?? - Pascoe Kalvin

 

 

 

Diary Events
DateCatTitleSub TitleVenuePromoter
06-October-1979GIGCOUNTRY HARVEST - OPENED BY NATURALIST TED ELLISPREMISESNORWICH ARTS CENTREMORE INFO
09-June-1988GIGCATAPULTBAZ MCHAT1NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
22-June-1988GIGKING OF THE SLUMSBAZ MCHAT2NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
03-August-1988GIGBOBBAZ MCHAT3NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
28-September-1988GIGCUDBAZ MCHAT4NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
05-October-1988GIGDARLING BUDSBAZ MCHAT5NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
24-October-1988GIGFLATMATESBAZ MCHAT6NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
09-November-1988GIGKING OF THE SLUMSBAZ MCHAT7NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
17-January-1989GIGSHINE!NORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
26-February-1990GIGSENSELESS THINGSNORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
03-April-1995GIGPROLAPSENORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
09-February-2004GIGLAPSED PACIFISTNORWICH ARTS CENTREWILDE CLUB, THEMORE INFO
08-May-2010GIGTHE BROWNIESNORWICH ARTS CENTRECLEAR TALENT MEDIAMORE INFO
03-September-2010GIGNR ONE RECORDS PROMOTION NIGHTNORWICH ARTS CENTRECLEAR TALENT MEDIAMORE INFO
17-December-2010GIGNR ONE RECORDS PROMOTION NIGHTNORWICH ARTS CENTRECLEAR TALENT MEDIAMORE INFO
17-December-2011GIGNR ONE RECORDS PROMOTION NIGHTNORWICH ARTS CENTRECLEAR TALENT MEDIAMORE INFO