Visual arts

The jewel in the crown, and barely a 20 minute drive from White Lodge Farm, is, undoubtedly, The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, housing the private collection of ecclectic world art which Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury donated to the University of East Anglia in 1973. The Sainsbury Centre, which first opened its doors to visitors in 1978 is housed in a stunning venue, the design of which was begum in 1974 by the then little-known architect, Norman Foster.

The collection, which continues to grow now comprises over 1,700 objects from cultures around the world spanning more than five thousand years and the Centre, which reopened in 2006 following remodelling and expansion is a regular home to temporary exhibitions.

Norwich Castle Museum is the home to a broad spectrum of 17th - 20th century paintings demonstrating the rich cultural heritage of East Anglia. The collection includes stunning English watercolours, Dutch landscapes and modern British paintings. In particular there are fine examples of paintings by three generations of Norwich School artists, including its most distinguished members, John Crome and John Sell Cotman.

The Twinings Teapot Gallery is reputed to house the world's largest display of ceramic teapots and the museum Norwich Castle has one of Britain's most important collections of Anglo-Saxon treasures, including beautiful gold torqs and coins discovered around East Anglia. There is also an Ancient Egyptian exhibition, complete with mummy (Howard Carter excavator and discoverer of the famous tomb of King Tutankhamun grew up in Swaffham, Norfolk).

The substantial collection of over 20,000 items at the Costume and Textiles Study Centre which was previously housed at Strangers' Hall is open to the public by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is now one of the finest collections in Britain, reflecting changing fashions, styles and technology in the clothing and textiles of ordinary people over the last five hundred years. All items in the collection can be viewed by members of the public.

Situated at the Nowich School of Art & Design, the Norwich Gallery shows a changing programme of work by living artists, designers and crafts makers who all come to Norwich and take part in teaching programmes. The exhibitions are intended to encourage interest and support for contemporary art and design education in the region.

Running alongside the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, usually held in May and running into June, the Norfolk Open Studios scheme involves several hundred artists across Norfolk (and a few from neighbouring counties) throwing open their studios and letting the world in to see them at work. Norfolk Open Studios is billed as one of the foremost events of its kind in the UK and the work on show generally ranges from painting and sculpture to ceramics, textiles, photography and new media.

Contemporary Art Norwich is an international celebration of contemporary visual arts which takes place in and around venues and city centre sites in Norwich on a biennial basis. Contemporary Art Norwich 2007 takes place between 14 July and 31 August 2007.

Usually held in October, The Norwich Fringe Festival, includes a Visual Art Trail.