Lakeside Arts brings Warhol, LagosPhoto and family theatre to University Park

Beside the lake at University Park, Lakeside Arts describes itself as the University of Nottingham's public arts centre and the region's leading venue for theatre and dance for children and families. In 2026 it has also proved it can bring headline exhibitions to the East Midlands.

In the spring, the Djanogly Gallery hosted Andy Warhol: Pop Icon, an ARTIST ROOMS partnership with Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Spread over three rooms, the exhibition ran from Warhol's early advertising and fashion sketches through his celebrity portraits to underground films, Polaroids and screen tests. Ashley Gallant, interim head of visual arts, explained Warhol's use of repetition: "It's the idea that the repetition of an image builds importance." LeftLion congratulated Lakeside for showing the kind of art usually kept for London galleries.

This autumn the gallery is showing LagosPhoto: Stories of Movement and Belonging, a free exhibition of photographic work from artists across the African continent, running from 19 September 2026 to 10 January 2027.

The stage programme is just as adventurous. In May, Nottingham company Rebel Sparks brought Take Flight, an aerial theatre show for babies aged 0 to 2 and their grown-ups, co-directed by Circus Hub's Ria Ashcroft and developed with input from a developmental psychologist. In October, Thick & Tight's Natural Behaviour mixed dance, mime, drag and poetry, with an access coordinator and audio description consultancy built into the production. LeftLion called it "one of the more quietly radical things to land at Lakeside this year".

Families have plenty to look forward to. The Snowsmith, a festive show full of puppetry, live music and storytelling from Half a String for ages four and up, runs in the Djanogly Theatre from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.

A visit is easy to turn into a day out, with the Pavilion Café and Gallery Café on site. The centre notes that its two Lakeside car parks remain free and unrestricted.

With free exhibitions, inventive theatre and a real focus on young audiences, Lakeside is one of Nottingham's most generous cultural spaces.

Exhibition details, show listings and tickets are on the Lakeside Arts website.