Elegant building sunk into a sandstone cliff with modern art galleries, a learning area and a cafe.
Accessibility
Nottingham Contemporary is easy to find, and easy to get to. You can’t miss our green and gold building – it’s in the city centre, in the heart of the Lace Market. We are one of the UK's leading contemporary art galleries. We present changing exhibitions of international contemporary art, public programmes that include films, talks, symposiums and study sessions. We also offer family activities, live music and regular gallery talks.
The building is made up of three levels. The first floor is situated on street level where our galleries, main reception and shop are located. There is lift access to the other two floors where you will find lockers, The Space (our performance auditorium), The Studio (our workshop space), our café (Ottar at Contemporary) and toilet facilities including a changing places toilet.
You will find members of our front of house team on Reception and in the Galleries should you require any assistance.
Car Parking and Arrival
- There is a drop off point 10 metres from the from entrance but with no dropped curb. A seating bench is available just inside the entrance. There are no handrails at this point.
- There is no on site parking. There is limited on street parking for Blue Badge holders for a maximum of 3 hours on High Pavement. Please display your badge and clock clearly.
- The nearest car park is Lace Market. A 2 minutewalk away on flat terrain. The car park postcode is NG1 1QE.
- Stoney Street car park is also a short walking distance please visit their websites for details.
- The main entrance door to Nottingham Contemporary is automatic and is 1210mm/47.5inches wide.
Main Entrance, Reception and Ticketing Area
- The main entrance, reception, galleries and shop is situated on street level with step free, level access throughout.
- There are cushioned benches to sit on in this area.
- The floor surface is wooden.
- The area is evenly and well lit with overhead lighting from fluorescent and spot lights.
- There is a lowered section of the reception desk and shop till.
- There is a hearing loop installed at reception.
- A magnifying glass, pen and pad of paper are available at reception.
- Wheelchair loan and portable seats are available to use free of charge, on request.
- Entry to the gallery exhibitions is free for all.
- Some music and performance events are ticketed.
Attraction
- The exhibitions are presented off the main entrance on Level 3 within four galleries which are all accessible from the main shop/reception area. There is also a study off gallery 1.
- Levels 1 and 2 are accessible by stairs or the passenger lift.
- Lift measurement: Door width 900mm/35 inches, floor depth 1400mm/55inches, floor width 1340mm/52inches.
- To access the galleries there are semi-automatic doors 1130mm/44 inches in width
- Titles and descriptions of the work are on wall text 1030mm/40 inches from ground level. Exhibition notes are provided for further explanations.
- There are returnable, laminated large print versions of all of these available so please ask a member of the team.
- Gallery Assistants are available in each gallery to answer questions you may have. Weekday spot talks are available free of charge, please see our main website for details of times.
- The exhibitions change 3 times a year. Lighting, sound and positioning of objects will change with each exhibition in the galleries. A full risk assessment is carried out before each exhibition and any required caution signage is present outside the galleries. Please contact us if you have questions regarding this.
- Written transcripts and or subtitles are usually available for videos produced by Nottingham Contemporary which are used provide information about our services. However, please note that subtitles and transcripts for artist produced video artworks, sound pieces and films exhibited in our galleries are not always available.
- The floor surfaces are wooden or concrete throughout the building.
Public Toilets
- Public toilets are located on Level 1. Accessible using the lift or stairs. They are situated outside The Space and in the our café areas.
- We have two accessible WC's in this location with right hand transfer to WC.
- A Changing Places WC is also available, however no shower is provided for the changing places table.
- There are also ambulant cubicles and a lowered urinal with vertical hand rails.
- The taps on the sinks are automatic.
- The floor surface is non slip concrete.
- Well lit automatic lighting.
- There is an emergency alarm cord.
- A light flashes when the fire alarm sounds.
- Accessible WC measurements: Door width: 870mm/34 inches. Toilet height is 470mm/18.5 inches. Sink height: 720mm/28inches.
- Changing Places measurements: Door width: 870mm/34 inches. Toilet height is 460mm/18.9 inches. Sink height 740mm/29 inches.
Catering
- Our cafe is situated on Level 1 accessible via the stairs or lift.
- There is step free access throughout this area which includes an accessible WC and outside patio.
- The entrance is 1510mm/59 inches wide.
- We offer table service and our staff are always happy to go through the menu with you.
- Lighting is natural daylight and florescent over head lights.
- There is a mixture of sofas and arm chairs with low tables as well as dining tables and upright chairs. Tables height are 745mm/29.4 inches. Upright chairs with no arms height from the floor is 465mm/18.5 inches. Sometimes our café furniture is moved around to accommodate a small stage for performers.
Additional Information
- All our staff receive training that includes disability awareness training.
- We have a set of evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency. Staff will direct you to the nearest emergency exit, which will lead to the outside of the building. Some emergency exit routes include stairs. If you are unable to use the stairs, you will wait in a safe refuge with intercom communication to reception until the emergency services arrive and assist you to leave the building.
- We welcome trained assistance dogs. A water bowl is available at Reception.
- Large print versions of our information are available to view.
