Colchester Campus Facilities

Art and culture

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student hanging up a piece of art in Art Exchange University of Essex

Soak up some on-campus culture

Being located in Britain's oldest recorded city means you're spoilt for choice; soak up the history of the Norman castle, delve into some contemporary art at Firstsite Gallery, or enjoy a show at the Mercury Theatre.

But the great thing about studying at Colchester is that you don't need to leave the campus to get your fix of music, theatre, arts and cinema, and if you're feeling really creative, connect with like minds and use our amazing multi-media facilities to produce your own projects!

Art Exchange

No need to head into city for your culture fix, we're got a contemporary gallery space in the centre of our Colchester Campus. Art Exchange is the home of art exhibitions, artist meet and greets, talks and events. You can even let your own creativity go wild at the various art classes on offer, from life drawing to playing with clay and screen-printing.

ESCALA

 The Essex Collection of Art from Latin America (ESCALA) is unique in Europe, offering unparalleled access to art from Latin America, here our students can experience object-based learning and curating techniques.

Inside Art Exchange gallery during an exhibition with a couple of visitors
Art Exchange Gallery
A student places a painting in the ESCALA collection
A student places a painting in the ESCALA collection

Lakeside Theatre

At our Colchester Campus, Lakeside Theatre showcases live comedy, National Theatre Live screenings, as well as touring theatre company productions and dance performances. Whether you're a keen actor, interested in production, or just enjoy an evening at the theatre (especially when there is a discounted student ticket), this is perfect for students interested in the arts.

Cine 10

Grab some popcorn and a few mates and head on over to your on-campus cinema, located on the top floor of the Lecture Theatre Building (LTB). Run by the Students' Union, at Cine 10 you’ll get the same high street cinema experience but from the comfort of your campus and at a fraction of the price. 

SubZero

When your lectures are done, and the sun goes down, check out the live music and DJs at SubZero, our underground nightclub in the centre of our Colchester Campus. It holds 1,200 people and regularly hosts some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry. 

Union Creative Studios

After being inspired by the artists and DJs at Sub Zero, why not produce your own masterpiece or podcast about your passion? Union Creative Studios is a hub for creativity, managed by students for students through the Students Union. The space accommodates two radio studios for live broadcast and podcast recording, a newsroom, a TV studio with cameras, lights and equipment, and an editing suite with macs containing the full Adobe Creative package.

A rap artist on stage to a large crowd at Sub Zero
A rap artist on stage to a large crowd at Sub Zero
Union Creative Studios audio studio facility
Union Creative Studios audio studio facility