Sainsbury Centre For Visual Arts

The Sainsbury Center makes a good visit for the art, has a well stocked shop, but sadly the café was not as good as our last visit two years ago. The café was a disappointment. If this was for the café alone it would be two stars.

Being an art student at UEA and being able to access this wonderful facility has been inspiring. The Sainsbury collection is well preserved, allowing art, anthropolgy and archeaology to mix.
The history of the SCVA and the Sainsbury Collection bridge the gap between art and artefact, artistic, anthropological and archaeological through presenting an eclectic mix of artefacts and art showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of art, despite the British Empire’s history of looting, trophy prizes and symbols of imperial success.
The SCVA and Sainsbury Collection do not provide descriptions or background to the artefacts displayed. This preserves the integrity of the object and forces the aesthetics to speak, however it limits the stories and history behind the objects.
My favourite was the African collection which raised some interested questions in a gallery setting. African objects have been and often still are, are the core of the debate ‘art of artefact?’, with the answer depending on the perspective (artistic or anthropological) adopted in the situated cultural Western hierarchy.
The SCVA and Sainsbury Collection has been successful in presenting collective memories and histories; through objects and by providing opportunities for recollection and remembering, capturing and exhibiting transitory pieces and confronting difficult aspects of human lifethrough history.

A great day out, would proably leave for a warmer day though to incorporate a walk by the lake. Very easy to find, large enought ot spend a few hours having a look around. A must see for families on a budget.

A great arts centre on the campus of the university of east anglia. it has a great selection of work from the vaults of the sainsbury family who gifted the works to the university a number of years ago.
the extended the center about 10 years ago greatly expanding what it could show. you can see all manner of artifacts some including henry moore works and giacometti.
there is a wonderful café on site which over looks the fantastic ground which surround the centre.
It also has a great gift shop with art books, quirky gifts for special occasions

An impressive Norman Foster building houses a fine collection of art, and anthropological items that are displayed as art pieces. Many gorgeous items by big (and less well known) artists, but I prefer to see the anthropology displayed with a little more context. Outside there are Henry Moore sculptures, and a great view of the lake and campus. They have a lively event programme and student exhibitions.

The Sainsbury Centre is another of the gleaming jewels that makes Norwich such a vibrant cultural city. Hosting regular exhibitions, it also houses the enormous collection of world art, built up by the Sainsbury family. You know the supermarket people
Fortunately we’re spared that family logo being daubed oever every available piece of white space. Which is lucky, because there’s a lot of white space around. One of Norman Foster’s earlist designs, it acts perfectly as a gallery space, it’s high roof giving the space a hushed reverance, but without the echoing high roofs usually suffer from. Downstairs you’l find classrooms where regluar creative sessions take place. And if all that staring at paintings overcomes you, there’s a nice viewing area you can sit in and watch the ducks swim on the lake. Pretty as a picture

In the grounds of the UEA the Sainsbury Centre offers visitors the chance to see some of the finest exhibitions of art. Exhibitions vary from the whacky, to fine art, and each last for several months, giving people ample time to visit.
Within the Sainsbury Centre is a refectory, popular with university staff, students and art viewers alike, offering a range of good value for money food.
The centre can also be hired out for private functions — a fantastic setting for that corporate dinner!
Car parking can sometimes be a bit tight, but there is usually somewhere to park if you are prepared for a walk from one of the university’s many car parks.

The Sainsbury Centre is by the river inside the University of East Anglia in the internationally renowned Norman Foster building.1977.
It was one of Fosters first building designs and I believe has many features like opening rooves etc. It uses advanced materials and construction techniques to combine open-​plan galleries, offices for staff and faculty, teaching spaces, and café all under one roof.
Robert and Lisa Sainsbury were avid art collectors who had amassed a fortune from their supermarket chain. When they were looking for a university to donate their collection to, they wanted their collection to be kept, and displayed, in one location.
The new University of East Anglia campus at Norwich had space available
The Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection features work spanning 5,000 years of human creativity. Modern work by artists such as Henry Moore, John Davies, Alberto Giacometti and Francis Bacon sits alongside art from Africa, the Pacific, the Americas, Asia, Egypt, medieval Europe and the ancient Mediterranean. The Lisa Sainsbury Collection of Modern Pots includes work from Lucie Rie, Hans Coper and Rupert Spira.
A great Furniture collection too as well as changing exhibitions.
The Anderson Collection of Art Nouveau comprises jewellery, furniture, glassware and metalwork featuring the fluid organic lines and whiplash curves that characterised European styles in the last years of the 19^th century. The collection includes pieces from Britain, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands along with work by renowned French makers Emile Gallé, Louis Majorelle and René Lalique. It is displayed once every three years
If you have never seen one then this is where to see The Little Dancer (1880 – 81) by Edgar Degas. Bronze and fabric (Height: 99.1 cm): Acquired: 1938 it was a cause of great comment especially when he put her in a glass dome similar to that of animals in a museum.
The Gallery Shop carries a range of (said to be) exclusive high-​quality books, cards and gifts, inspired by world art and design.
The Gallery Café offers light lunches, coffee and cakes.
Admission to the permanent collection is free. There may be charges for special exhibitions. A really worthwhile place to visit.