Visual and Performing Arts at the Assembly House Norwich

After considerable refurbishment in 1945 the H J Sexton Arts Trust was formed to administer the building. It was then opened to the citizens of Norwich for their use and enjoyment with the promotion of various cultural activities.

There are four exhibition rooms which offer a variety of local, national and international work from artists: paintings to sculpture, photography to textiles and jewellery to antiques.

The Hobart Room, named after the celebrated Sir Henry Hobart, Attorney General to the court of James I who built his town house on the site in 1606 – is the largest gallery and overlooks the courtyard and fountain at the front of the House.

The Oliver Messel Gallery – named after the respected film, stage and costume designer – is a white-wall gallery ideal for contemporary art exhibitions. In addition, the Gallery Cabinets offers the opportunity for first-time exhibitors to display their work. Most exhibitions are free and open to the public.

Ivory’s Café Bar features monthly exhibitions which display a wide range of contemporary and traditional art from local and international artists.

The Music Room with its elegant grandeur is situated adjacent to the Grand Hall and provides the ideal location for a concert or play. There is a small stage on which a Steinway Grand piano permently resides and is available for concert performances.The Music Room is already host to the University of East Anglia Music at One lunchtime concert programme where young talented music students can experience a public performance in one of the premier concert locations in the city. In November the House welcomes Britten Sinfonia at Lunch a monthly lunchtime concert series for further information visit www.brittensinfonia.co.uk Other concerts are held at Aldeburgh, Cambridge and Krakow. The seating capacity is 200 theatre stye. The Live in the House Concert series has featured well known names of the folk and jazz world, including Martin Taylor and Fairport Convention for a full programme of forthcoming concerts please vist the Events page.

The Noverre Suite is larger than The Music Room but is no less impressive, with chandeliers and large Georgian windows overlooking the Noverre Garden. Concerts and plays are held in this former ballroom and Noverre Cinema. It is currently the location of The Assembly House resident theatre company The Great Hall Theatre Company who produce a series of plays during the year with local professional actors, their plays are performed 'in the round'. For further information please contact www.greathalltheatrecompany.co.uk.

The Assembly House supports the Live at the House Concert Series, Britten Sinfonia at Lunch and the UEA Music at One Concert Programme.



We would like to thank Paul Peek Photography for supplying many of this website's photos. www.paulpeekphotography.co.uk