Quay Arts in Newport will open a new mixed-media installation this summer, marking a whopping half a century of programming at the venue.
The exhibition, called ‘The Centre’, opens to visitors on 27th July and runs until 13th September 2026.
Quay Arts will welcome visitors daily between 9am and 4pm throughout the run.
A journey through five decades
The installation brings together ephemera, objets d’art and artworks to tell the story of Quay Arts since it first opened its doors in 1976.
Visitors will hear the voices of founders and past visitors woven throughout the display.
The exhibition takes the shape of a physical timeline, guiding people through the venue’s beginnings, its growth, and its ongoing role on the Island.
Celebrating the people behind the story
‘The Centre’ puts key figures at the heart of its narrative, highlighting the movers, groups, artists and acts who shaped Quay Arts over the decades.
The exhibition also recognises the many users who have passed through the venue’s doors since 1976.
Organisers designed the timeline to celebrate these milestones and movements as a collective achievement, rather than the work of any single individual.
Looking to the future
‘The Centre’ doesn’t just look backwards; it considers what comes next for Quay Arts too.
The exhibition weighs up the venue’s legacy alongside its future direction, prompting visitors to think about where Quay Arts goes from here.
A nod to the archives
Quay Arts based the exhibition’s image design on a 1987 brochure for the venue.
Marriott Design & Advertising originally produced that brochure, and its style now inspires the visual identity of ‘The Centre’.
Visit details
‘The Centre’ runs at Quay Arts, Newport, from 27th July to 13th September 2026.
Doors open daily from 9am to 4pm for the duration of the exhibition.
