Norwich Arts Centre is a live music venue, concert hall and theatre located in St. Benedict's Street in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It has a capacity of 290 for standing music concerts and 120 for seated events. The centre also includes visual art galleries and multi media teaching facilities.
The venue opened in 1977 in an old department store on St. Benedicts Street. It moved to its current site, St Swithin's church, in 1980.
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The church is dedicated to Saint Swithun and dates to the fifteenth century, although an earlier, Anglo-Saxon church may have existed on the site.[1] The area was originally a wealthy, with four medieval churches close to each other. However it had become a slum by the nineteenth century. St. Swithan's became redundant and was closed in 1881. In 1882, the church's tower was demolished as it had become unsafe.[1] It was back in use as a church between 1883 and 1891, after which time it fell into disrepair.[1]
In 1905, a clergyman, John Sawbridge, raised funds for it to be reopened as an Evangelical church, to cater for the poor and deprived surrounding area.[2] There was sufficient money for a large, adjoining parish mission and school room to be constructed in 1908.[1] However, by 1951, the church was again redundant due to falling numbers of local residents.[1]
It was used as a furnature warehouse until it was taken over by the Arts Centre in 1980. The church itself became an auditorium, and the school room became an exhibition space and cafe.[2]
Little of the interior of the church remains in place, except for the monuments to Anne Scottowe, who died in 1650; William Willcocks (died 1770), Abraham Robertson (died 1777).[2] and Edward Temple (died 1707).
Although a small venue, Norwich Arts centre has hosted a list of bands and comedians including Nirvana, Oasis, Muse, The Stone Roses, Manic Street Preachers, The Libertines, Coldplay, Enter Shikari, Biffy Clyro, Foals, Kasabian, Mumford & Sons, Bombay Bicycle Club, Jack Dee, Mark Lamarr, Sue Perkins, Mark Thomas, Noel Fielding, David Baddiel, Ross Noble, Frank Skinner and Josie Long.
The venue is especially noted by rock music fans for being the site where Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers carved the words "4 Real" into his forearm with a razor blade to make a statement to journalist Steve Lamacq in 1991. The resulting photograph of this incident is one of the most famous in rock history.
The venue is also noted for a bootleg Nirvana live recording, recorded in October 1989, when they co-headlined with Tad. The venue is currently used by local Norwich arts groups like Salt Box Comedy Club, soapBox and the Wilde Club.