Arnolfini
Arnolfini is Bristol's centre for contemporary arts, founded in 1961 and now based at Narrow Quay on the floating harbour. It runs exhibitions alongside theatre, music, film, talks and family workshops, with an independent arts bookshop and a café bar that opens every morning.
Photos
Arnolfini Arts
What Arnolfini does
Jeremy and Annabel Rees founded Arnolfini in 1961, and it has been part of Bristol's cultural life ever since. Today it is a charity with a mixed programme: changing exhibitions by contemporary artists, performance and live art, music, film screenings, talks and tours, and workshops for families and community groups. The programme changes regularly, so it rewards repeat visits rather than a single tick-box trip.
Café bar and bookshop
You don't need to be visiting an exhibition to drop in. The café bar, run with Bristol brewery Wiper and True and FED, opens daily from 9am and looks out over the harbour. The independent bookshop stocks a wide range of titles on art and culture and is a good place to find something unusual. On a sunny day the quayside outside fills up, and it is one of the best spots in the centre to sit and watch the harbour boats go by.
Around Narrow Quay
Galleries are open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. Arnolfini sits at the heart of the harbourside, so it pairs well with M Shed's Bristol history across the water, the Aquarium and the Upside Down House. Muse Brasserie and Za Za Bazaar are nearby if you want a meal afterwards.
Highlights
- Contemporary arts centre since 1961
- Exhibitions, performance, film, music and talks
- Independent art and culture bookshop
- Harbourside café bar open daily from 9am
Good to know
- Galleries are closed on Mondays.
- Check the website for the current exhibition and event listings.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: arnolfini.org.uk · en.wikipedia.org