What Nottingham Contemporary does

Nottingham Contemporary is a registered charity (Charity No. 1116670) and contemporary art gallery established in 2009, operating from a RIBA Award-winning building at Weekday Cross, Nottingham. The organisation presents free contemporary art exhibitions across multiple gallery spaces, featuring international and emerging artists in rotating shows, while generating earned revenue through venue hire, retail sales, café operations, and educational workshops.

The gallery operates a diversified revenue model combining principal funding from Arts Council England with grants from trusts and foundations (Garfield Weston Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Thomas Farr Charity, Freelands Foundation), voluntary donations from visitors, and commercial activities. Commercial revenue streams include venue hire for corporate events (The Space accommodates up to 300 guests), retail through an online shop and physical gallery store selling Artists' Editions and merchandise, café operations via Blend at Contemporary, and priced educational workshops (£180-£300 per session). The business model is community-led, targeting schools, families, young people, community groups, and the general public through free admission with suggested donations.

Nottingham Contemporary serves multiple customer segments including schools and educational groups (2,000 students and teachers in 85 workshops in 2025), families (7,000 family participants in 100 sessions), young people aged 15-25 through the 1525 Collective, community groups including refugee and LGBTQ+ organisations, and corporate clients seeking distinctive event venues. The organisation has built a substantial partnership ecosystem with 50+ community partners and 40+ schools and colleges, alongside strategic alliances with Nottingham Trent University and University of Nottingham for student placements and creative pathways programmes.

Name

Nottingham Contemporary

Legal name

Nottingham Contemporary

Website

https://nottinghamcontemporary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Nottingham Contemporary is a registered charity and contemporary art gallery in Nottingham presenting free exhibitions, educational programmes, and community engagement activities, serving schools, families, young people, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Gallery

NAICS

Museums (712110), Art Dealers (459920)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Kids & Family Learning Workshops (Family Crafts, Junior Maker Classes) (THAJAKAO), Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG), Community & Amateur Theatre (MPAGABAD)

Keywords

• Contemporary art gallery
• Art exhibitions
• Educational programmes
• Community arts engagement
• Venue hire services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Free entry with voluntary donations requested from visitors. Registered charity (no.1116670) reliant on public support and charitable giving.
2. Venue and Space Hire: Rental of gallery spaces including The Space (up to 300 people), Meeting Room (up to 20 people), and Studio for events, conferences, and private functions.
3. Retail Sales: Shop selling books, toys, ceramics, jewellery, and homeware from UK designers and makers. Artists' Editions produced with exhibiting artists to raise funds.
4. Café Operations: Blend at Contemporary café operated by Blend, offering coffee, food, and catering. Commission or arrangement with external operator.
5. Educational Workshops and Services: Artist Experience Workshops priced at £180 for single class (2-hour) or £300 for two classes. Educational group visits with additional resources and support.
6. Charitable Funding and Grants: Principal funding from Arts Council England, with additional support from Garfield Weston Foundation, Thomas Farr Charity, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Ampersand Foundation, Freelands Foundation, The Big Give, and other trusts and foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nottingham Contemporary presents free contemporary art exhibitions across multiple gallery spaces alongside a programme of public events, learning activities, and family workshops. It also operates a retail shop (books, ceramics, jewellery, Artists' Editions), a café (Blend at Contemporary), and hires out its spaces for corporate and private events. Educational and community engagement — including school workshops, the 1525 Collective youth programme, and family play programmes — is a core component of the visitor offering.

Product overview

Nottingham Contemporary is a contemporary art gallery operating as a registered charitable organisation (Charity No. 1116670), offering a multi-faceted visitor experience centred on its exhibitions programme alongside complementary services. The core offering comprises rotating contemporary art exhibitions across its gallery spaces, complemented by Blend at Contemporary café, a retail shop selling Artists' Editions and merchandise, and venue hire opportunities in its RIBA Award-winning building. Educational outreach forms a significant component, encompassing programmes for schools and colleges, family activities through the Play & Learn team, the 1525 youth collective for 15-25 year olds, and an annual Work Experience Week. The organisation's activities span exhibition curation, educational workshops, venue hire, retail, and community engagement, with all operations conducted from its Weekday Cross location in Nottingham.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1525 Collective: Youth arts collective for 15-25 year olds, formerly known as Collabor8, that shapes and helps run programs of events, courses and projects.
• Blend at Contemporary

Products and services

• Exhibitions Programme Contemporary art exhibitions presented across multiple gallery spaces, featuring international and emerging artists in rotating shows spanning various dates throughout the year. Free entry with suggested donations.
• Venue Hire Rental of the RIBA Award-winning building's spaces for corporate events, conferences, private parties, meetings, and product launches. Available spaces include The Space (performance venue), The Studio (workshop space), Meeting Room, and the café/bar area.
• Gallery Shop Physical and online retail shop selling books, ceramics, jewellery, homeware, toys, and Artists' Editions produced in collaboration with exhibiting artists to raise funds for the exhibition programme.
• Educational Group Visits Programmes for schools, colleges, and universities including teacher notes, information sheets, artist-led workshops, and resources connecting students to exhibitions. Artist Experience Workshops priced at £180 for a 2-hour single class or £300 for two classes.
• Play & Learn (Families Programme) Family activities including Early Years sensory play sessions (We Are Wonderlings), school holiday activities, Family Explorer Bags, and Sensory Bags. Free entry with donations welcome.
• 1525 Collective Youth arts collective for 15-25 year olds meeting regularly at the gallery to develop creative practice, programme events, and gain skills. Formerly known as Collabor8, providing opportunities for collaboration, event production, and youth advocacy.
• Work Experience Week Annual work experience programme in partnership with city arts venues, offering students in years 10 and 12 insights into careers in the arts through meetings with artists, programmers, curators, and technicians.
• Blend at Contemporary Café Café operated by Blend within Nottingham Contemporary, offering hot and cold drinks, cakes, pastries, grilled cheese sandwiches, and a children's menu including a sensory-friendly Toast Café. Located on the bottom floor of the gallery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000 people took part in learning activities in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BlendcoreOthers · 1 January 2017External operator running Blend at Contemporary café. Operated in Sneinton Market since 2017 before expanding to Nottingham Contemporary. Provides café services, including children's menu and accessibility-friendly Toast Café.
• Nottingham Trent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing student placements, collaborative projects, and academic partnerships. Students take part in 1-6 month placements working with exhibition, HR, development, and marketing teams.
• University of NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner for student placements and creative pathways internship programme with city's cultural sector.
• Hayward Gallery TouringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for major touring exhibitions. Co-developed Hollow Earth exhibition with Hayward Gallery Touring, with subsequent tour to Glucksman Cork and RAMM Exeter.
• Glucksman, CorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouring exhibition partner for Hollow Earth: Art, Caves & The Subterranean Imaginary exhibition.
• RAMM, ExeterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouring exhibition partner for Hollow Earth: Art, Caves & The Subterranean Imaginary exhibition.
• Base 51minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth partner for Future of Futures project. Young people at Base 51 created Outburst Oracle Cards exploring LGBTQ+ perspectives.
• Space InclusiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth partner for Future of Futures project. Created A Sensory Museum exhibition displaying sensory artworks.
• Refugee RootsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Refugee Week celebrations. Hosted Bollywood dance workshop and community events. Part of Art of Belonging pledge and steering group.
• Nottingham City TransportminorOthersSupporting warm hub family programme with free bus travel for families. Partner in community outreach initiatives.
• Rainbow Parents Carers ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport group for families with children with special educational needs. Exclusive gallery sessions during school holidays with artists. Partnership informed SEND family offerings.
• Raleigh Educational TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partnership developing inclusive creative practice. New Ground project with artists and teachers working together.
• Confetti Institute of Creative TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Future of Futures project, collaborating on videogame creation course and Gamechangers 2094 digital world.
• Near NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative technology partner for Future of Futures project focusing on research and innovation.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Firstsite: Colchester-based contemporary visual arts organisation offering free exhibitions and learning programmes. Similar regional charity model with comparable programming breadth and community engagement focus.
• Turner Contemporary: Margate-based contemporary art gallery with free entry, learning programmes, and venue hire. Closely comparable regional gallery operating with similar charitable structure and educational outreach focus.
• Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art: Gateshead-based contemporary art gallery offering free exhibitions, learning programmes, and community engagement. Comparable in scale, regional positioning, and charity-funded operating model.
• Ikon Gallery: Birmingham-based contemporary art gallery operating as a registered charity with free entry, learning programmes, and venue hire. Closely comparable regional UK contemporary art institution of similar scale and operating model.
• Camden Arts Centre: London-based contemporary art venue with exhibitions, learning programmes, and artist residencies. Comparable in programming model though operating in a more metropolitan catchment with associated higher visitor baseline.
• Arnolfini: Bristol-based contemporary arts centre offering exhibitions, performance, film, and learning programmes. Comparable mixed-arts venue with similar community-led programming and venue hire offering.
• South London Gallery: South London contemporary art gallery with free exhibitions, learning programmes, and community engagement. Comparable charity operating model with similar emphasis on educational outreach and accessibility.
• The Hepworth Wakefield: Wakefield-based gallery housing modern and contemporary art with free entry, learning programmes, and significant architectural identity. Directly comparable in regional UK contemporary art positioning and mixed revenue model.
• The Fruitmarket Gallery: Edinburgh-based contemporary art gallery with free exhibitions, learning programmes, and shop. Comparable regional scale and charity operating model with similar curatorial and educational remit.
• MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art): Middlesbrough-based contemporary art gallery with free entry, learning programmes, and venue hire. Directly comparable regional UK contemporary art institution serving a similar urban catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nottm_contemp
• Facebookfacebook.com/nottcontemporary
• Instagraminstagram.com/1525collective
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nottingham-contemporary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nottingham Contemporary