About Cromer Artspace
Where Creativity Meets Community
art for everyone
Cromer Artspace is redefining cultural access in rural communities. From the acclaimed Bigger Picture project, which brings masterpieces from national collections into Cromer’s streets, to ambitious exhibitions at Artspace on the Prom, we have shown how world‑class art can thrive outside metropolitan centres.
Cromer Artspace was created to encourage arts in public spaces and develop community involvement in the arts.
We aim to enable projects which increase accessibility and audience engagement, support local businesses and help the arts to become valued as a vital part of local life and leisure.
The connection between creativity and culture and health and wellbeing has a long history; our community surveys highlight this. Cromer Artspace aims to fill the gap between the opportunities available in big cities and its rural coastal location, helping the community to address health and well-being and to inspire people to extend their horizons and enjoy the arts.
Who are we and why do we do this?
Our focus in on Visual Art. We have focussed on that as a result of our 2021 and 2024 surveys, to give our small team space to develop.
Please get in touch with your thoughts, comments and ideas, either email us on hello@cromer-artspace.uk or use our contact form
We’re a small dedicated group of volunteers with a focus on bringing the best art to Cromer. We work within an ethos which describes our approach and priorities.
We have 4 trustees, a set of project teams and a great band of volunteers who help look after Artspace on the Prom.
To help us deliver our objectives in a safe and consistent manner we work within a set of policies which are regularly reviewed.
In 2021 we asked the community about their priorities for art in Cromer which set us on our initial journey. We updated the survey in 2024, helping us ensure we are heading in the right direction.
Our Major Projects
Artspace on the Prom
Artspace on the Prom is a contemporary art gallery housed in a striking Art Deco building on Cromer’s west promenade, offering a unique cultural destination on the North Norfolk coast.
The gallery occupies an iconic seafront location, transforming a historic building into a vibrant hub for creativity. Its position on the promenade makes it accessible to both locals and visitors, with full disabled access and nearby parking. The setting itself is part of the experience: the sea views and coastal atmosphere provide a distinctive backdrop for exhibitions, encouraging audiences to engage with art in a relaxed, open environment.
Programming at Artspace on the Prom is ambitious and diverse. Exhibitions feature nationally and internationally recognised artists, alongside regional talent, across a wide range of media including painting, sculpture, photography, textiles, and installation. The gallery’s curatorial approach emphasises both artistic excellence and community relevance, with shows that respond to local heritage, environmental themes, and contemporary issues.
Artspace on the Prom is more than a gallery – it is a cultural landmark that blends heritage architecture, contemporary art, and community spirit. Its presence strengthens Cromer’s identity as a place where creativity thrives, and where the arts are not just exhibited but lived.
The Bigger Picture
The Bigger Picture project is an outdoor art exhibition that brings masterpieces from major national galleries into the streets of Cromer, making high-quality art accessible to everyone in the community.
The initiative, led by Cromer Artspace, runs in collaborations with institutions such as the National Gallery in London, the Courtauld, the Towner, and the Tate. For 2025, the project partners with the National Galleries of Scotland, displaying life-size reproductions of iconic works, including pieces like <em>The Monarch of the Glen</em>, around Cromer’s town centre and seafront.
In essence, the Cromer Bigger Picture project is both a cultural renewal and a social experiment: it reimagines how art can be experienced outside traditional galleries, strengthens Cromer’s identity as a hub for creativity, and demonstrates how rural communities can host world-class cultural programming.
The story so far
We've come a long way in 5 years and we have BIG ambitions....
National Galleries of Scotland
The Bigger Picture for 2025 was a collaboration with the National Galleries of Scotland. A digital guide to the exhbition, and Cromer Artspace was developed on Bloomberg Connects, a free app promoting art around the world.
Renovations
With huge thanks to Orsted, the Government and local councils we raised funds to undertake major renovation works to Artspace on the Prom: insulation, damp prevention, heating and lighting.
Heritage Space
In partnership with Cromer Museum, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, we worked with 6 community groups to design image boards with heritage images from the museums vast collection.
The National Gallery
In collaboration with the National Gallery London we brought a second outdoor exhibition to the streets of Cromer, showning 20 life sized reproductions from their amazing collection.
The Bigger Picture became mainstream and the National Gallery used the experience to launch their Art on Your Doorstep project.
Acess ramp
The steep steps to enter Artspace on the Prom made access tricky for all but the most able. With thanks to the Norfolk Coastal Partnership we installed an access ramp transforming ourt ability to use the space.
Artspace on the Prom
In collaboration with North Norfolk District Council, we started work on the Art Deco building on the west promenade, soon to become our home and launched our first season on exhibitions.
The first Bigger Picture
To bring art to Cromer during lockdown we produced actual-size replicas of major artworks from around the world and put them on the streets of Cromer. Breugel’s Children’s Games, van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait and works by other renown artists lit up the town.
The beginning
From an idea to develop Cromer as a place known for the arts Cromer Artspace came into being with big ambitions.