2024 in Norwich is another great year for festivals, music, literature, performance, and visual arts. With a broad range of immersive experiences for all ages and pockets, visitors to the city can expect to celebrate exciting science and technology at Norwich Science Festival; the art of wine at Norwich Wine Week; thrilling live performance at Norfolk & Norwich Festival; music, comedy and more at Norwich Summer Sessions; artisan craftsmanship, arts, and creativity at Norfolk Makers Festival and traditional art from the 17th century to contemporary art at Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.

This is Norwich in 2024 and more.

 

January – March

Norwich Works: The Industrial Photography of Walter & Rita Nurnberg
Norwich Castle | until 14 April 2024 (exhibition free with museum entry)
Between 1948 and 1961, husband and wife Walter and Rita Nurnberg photographed the factories of Norwich and their workers. These stunning photographs, which owe as much to Rita's skilful processing as they do to Walter's original compositions, go beyond the documenting of industry. The exhibition includes meticulously choreographed images of the factories infused with the high modernism of the Bauhaus, whilst striking portraits of workers lean into the glamour and beauty of cinema's golden age; from the time-worn faces of the master artisan to the teenage apprentices shining with enthusiasm, the Nurnbergs' photographs are both local history and enduring works of art.

www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/norwich-castle

Supported by: UEA, East Anglian Film Archive, Norfolk Record Office, East Anglia Art Fund

Afternoon Sea at The Assembly House
With eight different afternoon teas from the Assembly House to choose from, the latest iteration of one of Britain's favourite pastimes comes Afternoon Sea.

Priced at £35 per person or £65 for two people with a choice of tea or coffee. The tea includes mini fish and chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce and lemon. Fresh fishcake with smoked paprika aioli, shell-on smoked prawns, Cromer crab rarebit. Smoked mackerel pâté on one of their famous cheese scones, prawn and crayfish Marie-Rose bridge roll, two finger sandwiches of smoked salmon and cream cheese on granary bread.

And to finish - two chocolate sardines and a magic fortune fish!

Take advantage of a stay at The Assembly House with a spectacular deal of £199* until the end of March 2024 on all rooms from Sunday to Thursday night including an incredible bedroom, a bottle of fizz, Afternoon Tea for two AND a freshly cooked breakfast the next day (based on two people staying).

www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk

*Friday and Saturday nights are NOT included in this deal, along with the following dates December 26 - 28, December 31, 2023 & February14, 2024.

Norwich Science Festival 17 –24 February 2024 (free & paid for tickets)
Norwich Science Festival is a celebration of science and technology, showcasing the ground-breaking research and innovation associated with the city. The Festival gives visitors of all ages the chance to explore the wonders of the universe and meet the scientists whose research is changing the world. Enjoy hands-on science activities, inspirational talks and explosive family shows at The Forum and at partner venues throughout the city.

With a jam-packed programme of shows, talks, and workshops for grownups and children equally. Seven shows are for sale now including Hamza Yassin: My Life Behind the Lens (sold out, new release of tickets in January, 22 Feb, £23.50) presented in partnership with Norfolk Wildlife Trust. And The Science of Beer-making with Jaega Wise (BBC Radio 4 presenter ad award-winning brewer, 18 February, £12.50).

For the kids, CBBC's Operation Ouch! Presenter Dr Daniel Olaiya will take you on an adventure to space and beyond in his medicine meets cosmos, must-see family show – Dr Daniel Olaiya's Scientific Space Adventure (18 Feb, adults £16, child £11). Other early bird shows include Maddie's (Moate) Wildlife Rangers (17 Feb, £13.50) and How to Build a Racing Car with Fran Scott (23 Feb, £5).

The full programme is available in January 2024.

https://norwichsciencefestival.co.uk

'In Event of Moon Disaster' 17 February – 4 August 2024 (pay if & what you can)
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts: According to a YouGov poll, 16% of the British public believe that the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing never happened. Inspired by the title of a speech prepared for President Nixon in case the mission met with a catastrophe, 'In Event of Moon Disaster' is an immersive experience which recreates the speech using 'deepfake' technology, by artists Halsey Burgund and Francesca Panetta. 'In Event of Moon Disaster' is an MIT Center for Advanced Virtuality Production. The work won an Emmy for Interactive Media Documentary in 2021.

https://www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/

'Liquid Gender' 17 February – 4 August 2024 (pay if & what you can)
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts: Liquid Gender explores the relationship between identity and culture, asking how do we know who we really are? Through the photography, collage and sculptural work of Leilah Babirye, Martine Gutierrez and Laryssa Machada and Antônio Vital Neto Pankararu, and new holographic sculpture titled 'In the Absence of Evidence, We Create Stories' from Rashaad Newsome, the pressures of society are pushed aside, and the true self is revealed.

The artists will draw upon personal histories and pre-colonial traditions from around the world to convey fluid approaches to gender expression and self-identity.

https://www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/

'Jeffrey Gibson: I Can Choose' 24 February – 4 August 2024 (pay if & what you can)
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts: In his first solo exhibition in a UK museum, Jeffrey Gibson – who will become the first Indigenous solo artist to represent the USA at next year's Venice Biennale – creates a new site-specific installation for the Sainsbury Centre.

Incorporating murals, paintings, textiles and historical objects, Gibson includes text drawn lyrics, poetry and his own writing, complete with references to abstraction, fashion and popular culture to prompt the visitor to consider how Indigenous cultures have historically been displayed within museums. 

https://www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/

 

April – June

Norfolk Makers Festival 13 April – 21 May (Lots of free activities)
Celebrate the joy of making with open exhibitions, free activities, inspiring demonstrations, workshops, and fascinating talks. This festival is centred around craftsmanship, arts, and creativity. This is festival where attendees are invited to explore various handmade crafts, participate, and connect with local artisans. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to experts. Be encouraged to have a go at something new, meet friendly local makers and indulge in much crafty conversation!

https://norfolkmakersfestival.co.uk/

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 10 May – 26 May (free and paid tickets)
With a full programme set to be announced in the New Year, Norfolk & Norwich Festival has announced seven first shows for next year. The Festival runs 10 May – 26 May with artists from around the world and region. Luke Wright returns with his latest critically acclaimed show Silver Jubilee (24 May, Adnams Spiegeltent) whilst South America circus group Circolombia present a world premiere created especially for the Festival's Adnams Spiegeltent. Corazon – meaning heart in Spanish, is a high energy modern circus show with a distinctive Latin feel. Corazon runs for the entire Festival with tickets priced from £7.50 to £27.

https://nnfestival.org.uk/

Sunlight: Roger Ackling 18 May – 22 September 2024
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery: Sunlight is the first survey of the work of British artist Roger Ackling (1947-2014) and the most significant exhibition of his work to date.

Graduating from St Martin's School of Art, London in 1968, Ackling's career is notable for both his work and his long and influential teaching career. The exhibition will reveal the breadth of his practice, from his earliest experiments with a lens, to his final works made in the last months of his life.

Ackling is known for his work on found driftwood. Sunlight expands this reputation to include lesser-known works, which use domestic wooden objects and tools and incorporate readymade elements, such as elastic bands and mapping pins. The exhibition will also feature works on card and paper that have not been exhibited in the UK.

Sunlight will introduce Ackling's work to a new generation of audiences, prompting important conversations about the status of the object, the significance of material, the processes of making and the transformative power of display.

Supported by the East Anglia Art Fund

'The Camera Never Lies: Challenging images through The Incite Project' 18 May–20 October 2024 (Pay if and what you can)
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts: 'The Camera Never Lies: Challenging images through The Incite Project' re-evaluates some of the most iconic images of the past 100 years, asking to what extent they have shaped or created a false understanding of major global events.

The exhibition looks at the way photography has been used to present facts, whilst questioning its truth, through photographers such as Don McCullin and Robert Capa.

This exhibition features original photographs from the 20th-century which have become iconic, along with the work of current photographic artists who use the medium to question assumed truths about diverse subjects, including government surveillance, domestic violence, and the effect of conflict on civilian populations.

https://www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/

Norwich Wine Week 14 – 22 June
Norwich Wine Week is a celebration dedicated to wine enthusiasts about the art of wine. It offers tastings, pairings, special events, and opportunities to explore different varieties of local and East Anglian wine and wine from further afield.

Returning for a second year bigger and better than ever, with an extra day added to The Festival weekend and the Tasting Tent doubling in size, this is a fantastic event for wine lovers to discover new flavours and expand their knowledge.

Norwich Wine Week The Festival (14 – 16 June, tickets £15)
Is a celebration of Norfolk local wine and wines from East Anglia. Entry includes wine tasters, a goody bag and live music, as well as tent and outdoor seating and access to food trucks from the area selling really great Norfolk food. The location in Norwich's pocket park - Chapelfield Gardens - is a lovely green space to relax with a great glass of wine and friends.

For an extra £10, book a 30-minute Tasting Tent session with Norfolk Local Wine School lead by a wine/food expert including three glasses of wine, various themes will be available. Tickets on sale mid-February.

Norwich Wine Week The Showcase (14 – 22 June)
Takes place during English Wine Week and sees venues, eateries, bars and stores put on wine events, offers and special menus all across Norwich.

https://www.norwichwineweek.co.uk/

 

July – September

Norwich Summer Sessions (free, 11 July – 25 August)
Thursdays 4pm to 8pm - 11, 18, 25 July; Sundays 12.45pm to 4.30pm - 4, 11, 18, 25 August
Norwich Summer Sessions is back for another year of free summer street entertainment across Norwich. This is open air music and performance with a variety of musical genres, comedy, theatre, and more. Immerse yourself in a lively and entertaining city atmosphere where all ages can enjoy a packed programme of live performances.

www.visitnorwich.co.uk

Heritage Open Days 6-15 September
England's largest free festival of history and culture returns to Norfolk (Norwich & Norfolk has the largest programme outside London), with ten days of unmissable events. With talks, walks, open-doors, behind-the scenes tours, shows, and lots more for everybody to enjoy, Norfolk Heritage Open Days promises inspiring, intriguing and unusual experiences. From hidden streets to untold stories and undiscovered gems, Norfolk HODs reveals the unexpected and celebrates the best of the county's rich history.

2024 also brings Heritage Open Days 30th anniversary, meaning that millions of people across the country have enjoyed free cultural events over the past three decades. 

https://norfolkheritageopendays.co.uk/

 

October – December

JMW Turner and Changing Visions of Landscape 19 October 2024 – 23 Feb 2025

Turner's landscapes conveyed a full range of artistic, historical and emotional meanings. This exhibition will bring together, for the first time ever, four of his paintings of the Bridges at Walton – from Norwich Castle, Tate, and a private collection. Painted between 1805-1841, each painting gives a completely different character to this one location.

Using Turner's multi-faceted vision as a starting point, this exhibition journeys through landscapes real, imagined, dramatic, comforting, nightmarish, fragile and beautiful. Representations of landscape are governed by culture and politics as well as aesthetics. An infinite variety of ideas has underpinned the appearance and focus of landscape art. 

Featuring work by artists from the seventeenth century to the present, this exhibition reveals the breadth and complexity of human concerns surrounding landscape, and our changing attitudes to the natural world.

www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/norwich-castle

Notes to editors

For further information and high-res images please contact Melanie Cook, PR & marketing manager at VisitNorwich melanie.cook@norwichbid.co.uk.

Images https://show.pics.io/what-s-on-in-norwich-in-2024