Focal Point Gallery

Focal Point Gallery is a contemporary visual arts organisation based in South Essex at the ground floor of Southend’s Central Library, The Forum. Founded in 1990, the gallery promotes and commissions major solo exhibitions, group and thematic shows which reflect and respond to the unique context and heritage of Southend-on-Sea and the county of Essex.

The gallery has multiple outputs across the town including a year-round programme of high-quality exhibitions, events, publications, projects and temporary public artworks. Working with a diverse range of artists at all stages of their career, the gallery seeks to provide residents and visitors the opportunity to experience, participate and learn about challenging and ambitious examples of U.K. and international contemporary art.

Focal Point Gallery curates and commissions an on-going programme of artist moving image, screened daily on Big Screen Southend; a permanent outdoor video facility located adjacent to our main gallery space in Elmer Square.

The gallery leads and curates Radical ESSEX; an on-going project that re-examines the history of the county in relation to radicalism in thought, lifestyle, politics and architecture.

In partnership with The Beecroft Trust, the gallery is currently converting the former Beecroft Art Gallery in Westcliff-on-Sea into Artists’ Studios. The project aims to bring creative life back to a building of historic significance and will open in Summer 2019.

Focal Point Gallery receives regular funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation. The gallery also forms part of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council from which it receives regular support.