Hidden away at the very end of campus, the Sainsbury Centre is one of the most iconic architectural landmarks in the UK (and not just because Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron and Spider-Man: Homecoming were filmed on the site!) The Sainsbury Centre is far more than just an art museum; it is a living part of UEA’s history and a symbol of its commitment to creativity, cultural exchange, and academic excellence. Best of all, most of it is free to access for all university students! The centre holds various opportunities for all, from interactive exhibitions where you yourself become the art, to open and refreshing study spaces.  

Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury opened the centre in 1976 out of pure love for art, with no discrimination to professionalism nor name attached to the art they collected. Rather, their collection was built upon relationships with the artist themselves, including Francis Bacon, who painted Sir Robert Sainsbury’s portrait. Much to Sainsbury’s discomfort, the painting took place over multiple lunches in Bacon’s freezing studio — which you can now see hanging in the Sainsbury Centre. Each piece was, and still is, equally displayed with merit within the centre as it was in their own home. The Sainsbury Centre became a gifted collection to the University of East Anglia, built upon its premise; art for everyone. To come before art is to meet the living essence of the piece. The Sainsbury Centre creates accessibility to world of creativity and an insight into transcendent emotions that lay within our reach.  

Truly iconic for its time, the Sainsburys commissioned Norman Foster, a young architect who would go on to become one of the most celebrated names in modern architecture to design the housing of their ever-growing art collection. The building’s clean lines, steel frame, and glass facade give it a light, open atmosphere (perfect for studying or a coffee date!). Foster designed the structure to be flexible, with a large, open interior that could easily adapt to different exhibitions and events. The centre has become a true testament to Foster’s ability to harmoniously combine practicality with aesthetic innovation, which he affectionately nicknamed “The Shed.” 

However, that being said, the Sainsbury Centre is not just a gallery; it’s also a home for students, with many ways to get involved! 

• Download the Smartify app! 

With the app, your phone can become a personal tour guide. By just scanning a piece of artwork with your camera you can “shazam” the art to find out more. The app allows anyone to explore the Sainsbury Centre and find all info they need about what’s going on. Through the Sainsbury Centre’s channel, found through the ‘Explore’ icon, you can find the ‘Sharing Stories’ file where you can discover the many voices an artwork has. More than thirty contributors from all around the world have captured their relationship with a piece of work onto an audio file. With the choice between artists, experts or lived experience, the app grants a freedom to not just visually experience the art but to learn on a deeper, more intimate level through the voices that art holds. So next time you’re walking through the Sainsbury Centre don’t forget your headphones! 

• Have your say in the next Exhibitions: 

The Sainsbury Centre holds a unique and revolutionised approach to the accessibility of art and now they want to hear what you have to say. Evey six months a new ‘Big Question’ exhibition is created based on your big questions about life! Exhibitions are no longer just about the art, now being vessels for your theories, environments to explore and answers to your questions. Share your thoughts and ideas to help shape the next upcoming exhibition and season! Find them on their Instagram @sainsburycentre and start talking.  

• Free exhibitions for students: what to look out for  

Discover more of what the Sainsbury Centre has to offer by becoming a member, absolutely free for students! With free entry into the Centre, you will have free rein to drift in and out off all the exhibitions they have to offer, not to forget 10% off in the Terrace café and Sainsbury Centre shop. You can even stay on top for what to look out for with the newsletter throughout the year. Simply sign up at the front desk or email them at scva@uea.ac.uk. 

Exhibitions to look put for : 

• Heroin Falls: the realities of heroin addiction through two juxtaposing views of photographers: Lindokuhle Sobekwa and Graham MacIndoe. ( 23th November ) 

• Hot Mess: Lindsey Mendick: Hot Mess: Lindsey Mendick’s newly commissioned sculptures will sit in the Sainsbury Centre’s permanent collection and reveal her reliance on antidepressants and alcohol, tackling social taboos and candidly addressing stigmas. 

• Ivan Morison: Towards the Weird Heart of Things: Sculpture Park commission : The Sainsbury Centre, in collaboration with Orleans House Gallery, presents a new site-specific series of sculptures by artist Ivan Morison in response to the curatorial provocation, Why Do We Take Drugs? (21^st October)  

• Future seasons; 

• Can the sea survive us? 

• Can We Stop Killing Each Other?  

• Feeling creative? Sign up to the Young Associates  

Through this free creative program, you will be able to work creatively with others from 16-25 in a supportive environment to experiment with materials. This is an amazing experience to develop your own project with guidance from artist Anna Brass. Visit the Sainsbury centre website at www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/whats-on/young-associates-autumn-2024/ to find out more and book your slot.