Quay Arts Celebrates 50 Years At The Heart Of The Isle Of Wight's Creative Community

Quay Arts is marking its 50th anniversary this year with a weekend of free celebrations and a special exhibition reflecting on five decades of creativity, culture and community on the Isle of Wight.

The Newport venue, which first opened in 1976, has become one of the Island's best-known arts centres, welcoming artists, performers, audiences and visitors from across the community.

To celebrate the milestone, Quay Arts will host a free Birthday Weekend on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August, featuring a packed programme of live music, art, dance, comedy, circus performances and family-friendly entertainment. A full line-up will be announced soon.

The celebrations begin even earlier with The Centre Exhibition, which runs from Monday 27th July until Sunday 13th September in the West Gallery.

The exhibition will chart the history of Quay Arts through artwork, archive material and personal stories from people who have helped shape the organisation over the past 50 years.

As part of the anniversary, members of the public are also being invited to share their own memories of Quay Arts, whether it's a favourite exhibition, performance, workshop or another special moment at the venue.

Centre Manager Del Seymour said:

"Turning 50 is a milestone we're proud to celebrate with a vibrant birthday weekend of music, theatre, comedy, poetry, circus, dance and more, alongside an exhibition that reflects the spirit of Quay Arts.

"We're calling on everyone who's been part of our journey to share their memories and help us capture the legacy of this remarkable creative hub."

More information about the Birthday Weekend and how to share memories can be found on the Quay Arts website.