Arnolfini

One of the sites that makes up City Campus at UWE Bristol and an iconic building at Bristol Harbourside that's home to Arnolfini gallery.

The Arnolfini is one of Europe's leading centres for the contemporary arts, presenting innovative, experimental work in the visual arts, performance, dance, film, music and events, accompanied by a public programme of learning and participation activities.

City Campus shares the iconic building on Bristol’s historic Harbourside, home to Arnolfini gallery. The Arnolfini provides a unique setting for students studying Art, Graphic Design, Graphic Arts, Curating, and parts of our Fashion Communication and Drama and Acting courses.

The Arnolfini houses five exhibition spaces, a theatre/cinema auditorium, Reading Room and Light/Dark Studios all housed in this Grade II listed, fully accessible building. The ground floor Auditorium is used for lectures, drama workshops and performance workshops.

Bristol and Bath Screen Summit with Gamba Cole

Watch The Outlaws' star, Gamba Cole, discuss nurturing talent in the screen industry at the Bristol and Bath Screen Summit at Arnolfini.

Partnerships

Arnolfini is Bristol’s renowned centre for interdisciplinary contemporary arts. Located in the city centre, Arnolfini hosts international exhibitions and diverse cultural and community events to engage the public in arts and learning. 

Through our uniquely rich partnership with Arnolfini, UWE Bristol staff, students and researchers work in this building too. They share art and design studios, photography and print facilities, a VR lab, seminar rooms, student services, a PhD hub, a reading room, plus Arnolfini’s 200-seat theatre.

Arnolfini staff deliver talks, work experience opportunities, and placements for students. There are also opportunities to attend public workshops, enabling students to get involved with community outreach projects to build their professional learning and civic engagement. 

Executive Director of Arnolfini partnership with UWE Bristol

Watch Gary Topp, Executive Director of Arnolfini, discuss the power of collaboration through their partnership with UWE Bristol.

Exhibitions and programmes

Students gain inspiration from and respond creatively to Arnolfini’s exhibitions, which are co-produced by UWE Bristol. These exhibitions offer tangible opportunities to learn, develop and grow as practitioners. 

Exciting opportunities exist for UWE Bristol’s creative students to exhibit their artwork in Arnolfini’s public galleries. These include our annual Degree Shows and during the academic year, through projects such as The Periphery

Artists exhibiting at Arnolfini regularly work with UWE Bristol students and researchers. Our School of Arts and Centre for Fine Print Research collaborate with Arnolfini on running public drawing workshops, and co-hosting an evening lecture programme, The Art of the Maker.

City Campus locations

Where to find Bower Ashton Campus, Arnolfini, Spike Island and Watershed.

1. Bower Ashton Campus

Kennel Lodge Road Bristol BS3 2JT.

2. Arnolfini

16 Narrow Quay Bristol BS1 4QA. Located in the centre of Bristol on Narrow Quay, between the harbourside and Prince Street.

3. Spike Island

133 Cumberland Road Bristol BS1 6UX.

4. Watershed

1 Canon’s Road Harbourside Bristol BS1 5TX.

Arnolfini images

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