Designed by Norman Foster, the Sainsbury Centre was created as a single span structure over 150m long providing exhibition and display space, as well as teaching space for the University of East Anglia (UEA) art department.

Museum collections

Opened in 1978, it houses a collection of contemporary art and ethnographical items donated by Robert & Lisa Sainsbury. Among the permanent collections are works by Degas, Japanese illustrations, works by Francis Bacon and Alberto Giacometti, Pablo Picasso, Maori figures, Tang dancers, Surrealist paintings by Leonara Carringtion, sculptures by Henry Moore.

Temporary exhibitions

There is a changing programme of exhibitions. Every two years, works from the Sainsbury Centre’s Anderson Collection of Art Nouveau are put on display.

Other exhibitions have included loan material from all over the world. Typical examples have included an exhibition on Fiji Art & culture, Leiko Ikemura, Bill Brandt & Henry Moore, Greyson Perry, stained glass by Brian Clarke, Spitting image creator Roger Law.

Sulpture park

Surrounding the centre, is a sculpture park contianing works by Henry Moore, Elisabeth Frink, Lynn Chadwick, Antony Gormley and a large scale model of Vladimir Tatlin’s Monument to the Third International - an unrealised tower originally intended to be 400m tall.

Cafes are located on site.

Practical Info

Located at the University of East Anglia, on the southern outskirts of Norwich. Limited parking available on site

Open Tuesday - Friday 9am-6pm Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm

Admission free, but some exhibitions may incur a charge

sainsburycentre.ac.uk