Making Things Move
A Hands-On Robotics Workshop for Makers. What if your artwork could breathe, blink, or hesitate?
Contemporary Visual Arts Network East Midlands
CVAN EM celebrates and supports visual arts and culture in the region, fostering an inclusive long-term future for the sector, emphasising equity and access for all arts workers.
Latest Activity
Updates, features, and insights from the visual arts community.
Better Together #17: From Survival to Strategy | Building Stronger, More Sustainable Arts Organisations
The session will include practical advice, common pitfalls and space for live questions around funding, income and sustainability.
Weaving Light and Sound: A Music, Film & AI Hackjam
On 23 July we will bring colleagues from Music, Computer Science and the VIP Studio together for a single intensive day of making: treating AI as a collaborator to compose, devise and perform live music, and to build a visual environment that listens to that music and answers it as it unfolds.
Events & Exhibitions
Discover exhibitions, workshops, talks, performances events and creative activity across the region.
Open Monday to Saturday during school holidays. Term time opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 4:45pm. Closed on Sundays, Christmas and Bank Holidays.
Stories of Bassetlaw: Original Works by Christy Burdock
An exhibition of artworks by Christy Burdock, an RCA artist, created in response to Bassetlaw Museum's collection and the communities it serves. Burdock draws on the stories held within collections and the ways ideas move across time and place. Her deeply researched, immersive process was enriched by local voices and memories. Displayed throughout the museum near the objects that inspired them, the beechwood-panel works respond to history, offering new perspectives rather than direct illustration. https://www.christyburdock.com/
07 Apr 2026 - 12 Sep 2026
Bassetlaw Museum, 40 Grove Street, Retford, DN22 6LD
10am - 4pm one Saturday per month
From Type To Page: A Year In Letterpress
Leicester Print Workshop are delighted to offer a real exploration of type in all its formats across a huge range of projects that come together to create a comprehensive toolkit for any artist interested in beginning or developing their Letterpress practice. The course is designed to build understanding of the detailed nature of Letterpress through monthly sessions which will work best if extended by using the free membership that goes with this course.
18 Apr 2026 - 20 Mar 2027
Leicester Print Workshop, 50 St George Street, Leicester LE1 1QG
10am - 4pm
NAE Open 2026
The NAE Open returns for its sixth iteration in 2026, with a presentation of works that includes paintings, print, video, installation, photography, textiles and sculpture. This exhibition was created through a competitive open application for Nottinghamshire based artists and Global Ethnic majority* artists living anywhere in the UK. A panel of advocates including neighbours, artists and curators chose from a substantive number of submissions. The result is an eclectic and compelling selection of artists at different stages of their careers.
30 May 2026 - 12 Sep 2026
New Art Exchange, 39 - 41 Gregory Boulevard
Jobs & Opportunities
Funding opportunties, residencies, creative roles, commissions, open calls, and professional or creative development.
N/AUrgent
Street Art Open Call
Submissions are now open for our expansive floor-to-ceiling saloon-style exhibition in August. The annual Street Art Fest celebrates the best local, national and international street art. Join us this Summer for a refreshed look at Notts' vibrant alternative art scene, featuring guest speakers, creative workshops, and ground breaking street art. Up to 6 Pieces of work can be submitted per person and they must relate to street art. Prizes TBC. Please bring your submissions to the gallery on the scheduled drop-off date. Application forms will also be available to collect in the Gallery from 5th June! Please check our website for our opening times. Follow the link below to take part.
Deadline: 20 Jul 2026
£14,625 (£29,250 FTE)
Marketing and Press Coordinator
We are looking for a Marketing and Press Coordinator to join Arts Collective for 2.5 days per week. If you love storytelling, contemporary art, digital content, social media and helping connect artists with communities, we'd love to hear from you. The Marketing and Press Coordinator will lead the creation and delivery of Arts Collective's marketing, communications and digital content across press, social media, website, print and other public-facing platforms. Working within the organisation's communications strategy, the postholder will help increase the visibility of Arts Collective's programme, support audience development and strengthen engagement with artists, communities and partners. They will monitor and evaluate marketing and press activity to inform future campaigns and ensure the organisation reaches diverse audiences locally, regionally and nationally. For the full job description and application details, please download the application pack via the link below.
Deadline: 27 Jul 2026
N/A
SurfRes 2026 Call for Submissions
Applications are now open for a refreshed edition of Surface’s annual residency and exhibition project. We invite early- and mid-career creatives (with the exclusion of students) to take part in a free 4-week residency and 2-week exhibition. This opportunity in an independent contemporary art space aims to support the generation of new visual artwork. Eight artists will be selected to produce a new body of work for the subsequent exhibition. The residency will take place in our open-plan Project Space, enabling the artists to interact and develop their practice in a stimulating and mutually supportive environment. There will be in-house critical feedback, and opportunities for formal critique sessions with established artists and curators. Please note: this is an unpaid opportunity, providing access to space and resources for development in Nottingham.
Deadline: 10 Aug 2026
Stay Connected
Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates on exhibitions, opportunities, and events across the East Midlands visual arts community.