In October 2025, we welcome Eelyn Lee for a month-long residency Primary. Lee was awarded the Primary Residency Prize, an award presented to an exceptional artist participating in the annual Open exhibition at the New Art Exchange. Lee was awarded the prize for her work Four Quadrants of the Sky 四大神獸.
Opening in the Autumn, Flat will feature work by Primary resident and member artists—Louisa Chambers, Craig Fisher, Lynn Fulton and Sam Metz—across Gallery 1 and 2, exploring the word ‘flat’ in two distinct contexts.
Small Mercies is the first solo show in England by Glasgow-based artist Matthew Arthur Williams. Spanning both galleries at Primary, the exhibition combines new printed media, sound and moving image.
Diasporas Now, in partnership with the V&A, South London Gallery, Spike Island and Primary, announce an open call for Global Majority artists working in live art for a national tour of commissioned performances under the theme of Macrocosmic Futures.
The first stage of Primary’s capital development has been recognised through a RIBA East Midlands Award, as well as further awards for Building, Client and Small Project of the Year.
Over the past four years, we’ve been making changes at Primary to increase accessibility and inclusivity. This is an ongoing journey and in this article we want to share some of the changes and learning that’s been taking place. We’re grateful to everyone who’s helped shape this learning and the work of many disability rights activists and artists who have done so much to shift the conversation on access, disability and neurodiversity over many years.
As a very small team comprised of only part-time staff, we look forward to fostering the ‘specialness’ that is Primary and building a shared enquiry with your support.
Primary is seeking to recruit several trustees, following the completion of the terms of office of three board members. This is an exciting time to join us following the acquisition of our building and significant investment in capital development.
We are looking for people with diverse lived and personal experiences as well as professional expertise to make a difference to our future.
Primary is commissioning a researcher / evaluator to develop a Case for Support to support the organisation’s Artist Development Strategy. The Case for Support will articulate and demonstrate the impact that Primary’s Artist Development Programme has on residents and members as well as artists engaged through our Public Programme and partnership working.
Primary is seeking a Front of House & Gallery Assistant to welcome visitors and offer them information and guidance to enrich their experience of Primary’s public programme, which includes exhibitions and events. For full details on the role, personal specification and how to apply please see the application pack.
This role is for a curator from the global majority. The Associate Curator will be an integral role within the Primary programme team, working collaboratively to shape our work. They will take an active role in the decision-making processes of the organisation, supporting the delivery of our wider programme. The role will be developed based on the successful candidate’s interests and direction. They will lead on the development and delivery of a strand of public programme, with access to a budget of £10K to support this.
We are excited to share news of a new artist venture based from Primary. Resident artist Georgina Barney, who developed and maintains Primary dye and pigment garden, has launched Plant Dye Studio!
Through Plant Dye Studio Georgina is hosting a series of workshops and talks focused on learning how to make plant dyes, inks, paints and pigments.
10 artists will be invited to join Courses for Dis-Course(s) as participating artists in an exciting new project taking place at Primary. The Dinners will be specifically for British (south) Asian Women Artists (or anyone who identifies with this - inclusive of non-binary people and trans women). Specifically, we are looking for artists for the location of Nottingham from areas local to Primary and artists who wouldn’t normally have access to such spaces for showing work or engagement.