Everyone is an artist

Drum circle in church hall, photographed from above.
Blue to Green Drum Circle, Lamar Francois 2022

Since 1977, we’ve been breaking down barriers to reconnect people with art, culture and creativity. We stand up for people who are underrepresented in the arts. We see talent where it has been overlooked and undervalued. Anywhere can be your studio, your gallery, your stage. At City Arts, we believe you are an artist. 

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Drum circle in church hall, photographed from above.
Blue to Green Drum Circle, Lamar Francois 2022

Featured

Exterior photograph of Alfred House, a large red-brick industrial building with rows of tall arched windows, located on Ashley Street in Nottingham. A blue sign above the door reads ‘ALFRED HOUSE’, with the BACKLIT logo mounted above. Cars are parked along the street beside the building under a clear blue sky.

News

City Arts moves into BACKLIT

Following 12 years based in Hockley, City Arts is moving its office into BACKLIT. BACKLIT is a cultural hub dedicated to heritage, placemaking, and contemporary artistic practice. Their community unites…

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What's on

Family Friendly

Hoopla! on the Forest Rec

Date of event: 6 Aug 2026 Event start time: 10:00am - Event end time: 2:30pm

Venue Address: Behind Homemade Cafe (at The Pavilion), Forest Recreation Ground, Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG5 2BU

Hoopla! is a free, family-friendly, outdoor mini-festival for children aged 0–4. Join us for a day of puppetry, music, play, performance and art. Explore, discover and have fun on the…

Book Now: 'Hoopla! on the Forest Rec' View event: 'Hoopla! on the Forest Rec'

Family Friendly

Hoopla! in Aspley

Date of event: 11 Aug 2026 Event start time: 10:00am - Event end time: 2:30pm

Venue Address: Melbourne Park, Melbourne Road, Nottingham, NG8 5HJ

Hoopla! is a free, family-friendly, outdoor mini-festival for children aged 0–4. Join us for a day of puppetry, music, play, performance and art. Explore, discover and have fun in Melbourne…

Book Now: 'Hoopla! in Aspley' View event: 'Hoopla! in Aspley'
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Projects

Get Creative participant, artist and volunteer

Find out more: Get Creative

Project dates: Since November 2011

Audience watches performer with stag puppet. Text reads 'Hoopla - a mini festival of ages 0-4'.

Find out more: Hoopla!

Project dates: Since July 2022

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Our Impact

An audience seated in rows, watching a performance or presentation. Many of the attendees are elderly, and they are engaged and smiling. The setting is a community hall with beige walls and bright lighting.
My Voice! My Place! event in Carlton, Lamar Francois 2024

Case Study

I loved seeing how excited people were about being involved, how they felt a sense of belonging, that they were being listened to.

Read Sara's story

Key Stats April 2024 - March 2025

1 in 6 Hoopla! participants lived in the most deprived communities in England

23% of artists employed were D/deaf or disabled

84 Creative workshops

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