Centre for Contemporary Art

Aim

Help us create the CCA: a major cultural destination in York. We're progressing plans for a £1.9 million investment. £250,000 left to raise.

Help us create the Centre for Contemporary Art in York

Bring the historic De Grey Rooms back to life as a major new cultural destination, with three ambitious galleries, international contemporary art, immersive experiences and opportunities for emerging artists.

We are delighted to be progressing plans for a £1.9 million investment towards establishing the Centre for Contemporary Art. This represents a significant milestone for the project and brings us much closer to realising our ambition for the historic De Grey Rooms.

We are now seeking the final £250,000 to help bring this vision to life. This fundraising campaign will help complete the budget for the major refurbishment of the De Grey Rooms, transforming the building into a contemporary art space.

Be part of something extraordinary. Help us get over the line.

This is an opportunity to be part of something lasting: a new cultural destination for York, bringing together outstanding contemporary art, immersive experiences and opportunities for artists and audiences.

We are so close. Your support could make the difference. Learn more at centreforart.com.

A Historic Building. A Bold New Future.

At the heart of York stands the De Grey Rooms, a remarkable historic building with a rich civic and cultural history. Built in 1841 by architect George Townsend Andrews, the Grade II* listed building was created as a place for people to come together for entertainment, concerts, balls, meetings and public life.

For the past 100 years, the building has not had a permanent use. Now, we have an opportunity to give this important building a new cultural purpose.

Led by Aesthetica, we are developing plans to establish the Centre for Contemporary Art at the De Grey Rooms: a dynamic home for ambitious exhibitions, immersive experiences, emerging talent and creative discovery. A place that connects heritage with the ideas, technologies and artistic practices shaping our future.

We are inviting you to help make it happen.

The opportunity in front of us is significant. With plans for a £1.9 million investment progressing, we are now working towards the final £250,000 needed to help realise this vision. This fundraising campaign will help complete the budget for the major refurbishment of the De Grey Rooms, transforming the building into a contemporary art space. Every contribution will help move the project forward and establish a new cultural destination with the ambition, programme and reach to put contemporary art at the centre of cultural life.

A Centre with International Ambition

Contemporary art connects us to the ideas, technologies and cultural conversations shaping our world. The Centre for Contemporary Art at the De Grey Rooms will create a new home for these experiences, bringing together ambitious exhibitions, immersive media and the next generation of creative talent.

Building on Aesthetica’s established international networks and commitment to championing artists, the Centre will present contemporary art from the UK and around the world, while creating opportunities for emerging talent to develop, exhibit and reach new audiences.

Its three gallery spaces will offer a distinctive combination of international exhibitions, technology-led experiences and a dedicated platform for new creative voices. Together, they will create a place for discovery, experimentation and exchange – connecting artists, audiences and ideas across disciplines and borders.

Imagine What We Can Create Together.

Located in the heart of York, the Centre will add a new dimension to the city’s cultural offer while contributing to the wider creative landscape of the North of England. Its outlook will be national and international, demonstrating that ambitious cultural institutions can thrive beyond capital cities and play a significant role in shaping contemporary culture.

Our ambition is to establish a centre with a clear identity and a broad reach: connected to the world and committed to bringing exceptional contemporary art to new audiences.

The De Grey Rooms has a remarkable history as a place for people to gather. Its next chapter will create new opportunities for artists and audiences, establishing a lasting home for contemporary art and a dynamic cultural destination for the future.

Take a look at our vision for the Centre.

The Centre for Contemporary Art will bring together art, technology and imagination in an ambitious new cultural space.

At its heart will be an immersive media arts gallery, offering audiences the opportunity to experience contemporary art in new and exciting ways.

Alongside this, two further gallery spaces will present leading contemporary artists from the UK and internationally, while providing a dedicated platform for emerging creative talent.

Based in the historic De Grey Rooms in the heart of York, the Centre will give this remarkable building a new purpose and create a vibrant destination for art, creativity and discovery.

Imagine what we can create together.

Three Galleries. One Ambitious Vision.

The Centre for Contemporary Art will bring together three complementary gallery spaces, each with its own identity and purpose.

1. Immersive Media Arts Gallery

Art meets technology in a space dedicated to immersive media and digital creativity.

This gallery will explore how artists use moving image, sound, digital tools and new technologies to transform the way we experience art. Visitors will encounter creative environments that move beyond the traditional gallery format, offering new ways to engage with artistic ideas.

Our ambition is to build on the UNESCO City of Media Arts designation and establish a leading destination for immersive media arts outside London, bringing innovative work and new audiences into the city.

2. Main Exhibition Galleries

These galleries will present ambitious exhibitions of national and international contemporary art.

The programme will bring artists and ideas into conversation, offering audiences opportunities to encounter new work, discover different perspectives and engage with the issues influencing contemporary life.

The aim is to create a programme with artistic ambition and international reach, while remaining accessible and engaging for a broad audience.

3. New Talent Gallery

The next generation of artists needs opportunities to exhibit, experiment and reach new audiences.

The New Talent Gallery will provide a dedicated platform for emerging creative voices, building on Aesthetica’s long-standing commitment to identifying and supporting new talent.

It will create opportunities for artists to present their work, develop their practice and take important next steps in their careers.

Together, these three spaces will create a distinctive centre for contemporary culture: connecting established and emerging artists, physical and digital experiences, and local audiences with international ideas.

Aesthetica: Championing Creativity, Shaping the Future

For more than 20 years, Aesthetica has championed creativity and supported artists and filmmakers through its magazine, art prize, film festival and wider creative platforms.

Rooted in York and connected to an international network of artists and creative practitioners, Aesthetica has developed a strong track record of bringing new voices to audiences and creating opportunities for ambitious work to be seen.

The Centre for Contemporary Art is the next step in that work: a permanent cultural home that brings these creative connections into a physical space.

It will build on Aesthetica’s experience of supporting artists, presenting creative work and connecting audiences with contemporary ideas. It will also create new opportunities for collaboration across art, film, digital culture, education and the wider creative industries.

Our aim is not simply to open another gallery. It is to establish a centre with a clear identity, a distinctive programme and a lasting contribution to culture.

Help Us Raise £250,000

The Final £250,000: Help Us Get Over the Line

Transforming an historic building into a major contemporary art centre takes vision, commitment and investment.

We are progressing plans for a £1.9 million investment towards establishing the Centre for Contemporary Art, subject to final confirmation. This represents a major step forward and demonstrates the scale of ambition and support behind the project.

Now we are asking the public, businesses, art lovers, philanthropists and our wider creative community to help us raise the final £250,000. 

Your contribution will help us move towards establishing the Centre, preparing its spaces and developing the gallery infrastructure needed to bring the vision to life. This fundraising campaign will help complete the budget for the major refurbishment of the De Grey Rooms, transforming the building into a contemporary art space.

Every contribution matters. Whether you give £25, £50, £100, £250 or become a major Founding Supporter, you will be helping to create a new cultural destination for York and the wider region.

This is the final push. Help us make it happen.

More than a Building: A Place for People

The Centre will make things possible.

It will provide space for artists to present ambitious work, for audiences to encounter new perspectives and for emerging practitioners to develop their careers. It will bring contemporary art and immersive experiences into the lives of people who may be discovering them for the first time, while offering established audiences fresh ways to engage with creative practice.

We want the Centre to be active, accessible and connected: a place for exhibitions, discovery, creative exchange and participation.

As a Community Interest Company, Centre for Contemporary Art York CIC is being developed with a focus on cultural and community benefit. Our ambition is to create a resource that serves York and its communities while connecting the city to contemporary art and ideas from across the UK and around the world.

Our Target Opening: Summer 2028

We are working towards opening the Centre for Contemporary Art at the De Grey Rooms in Summer 2028, subject to project delivery, the necessary approvals and completion of the work required to bring the building and galleries into operation.

The work starts now: preparing the spaces, developing the galleries, investing in creative infrastructure and shaping a programme that can welcome artists, audiences and communities.

By becoming a Founding Supporter, you can help build the foundations for the Centre and be part of its development from the beginning.

Become a Founding Supporter

We want the people who help make the Centre possible to be part of its story.

Our Founding Supporter campaign offers different ways to contribute, with proposed rewards designed to recognise your support and bring you closer to Aesthetica’s work.

£25 – Friend of the Centre

Be part of the vision and enjoy the centre when it opens.

• x2 Entry Tickets to the Centre for Contemporary Art

£50 – Supporter

Show your support and visit the centre with friends and family.

• x4 Entry Tickets to the Centre for Contemporary Art

£100 – Member

Become a member of the Centre and enjoy exhibitions year-round.

• One-year Centre for Contemporary Art membership



£250 – Founding Supporter

Help lay the foundations for the Centre and become part of its founding community.

• One-year Centre for Contemporary Art membership


• One-year Aesthetica magazine subscription


• 10% discount in the Centre for Contemporary Art shop


• Project updates as the Centre develops



£500 – Founding Supporter Plus

Build on your support and enjoy additional opportunities to connect with Aesthetica.

• Everything included in the £250 tier


• Two Unlimited Passes to the Aesthetica Film Festival
• Priority invitation to a Centre preview



£1,000 – Founding Supporter Patron

Make a significant contribution to the Centre’s future and help create opportunities for artists and audiences.

• Everything included in the £500 tier


• Permanent name recognition on the Centre’s entrance wall, subject to final arrangements


• Four Unlimited Tickets to the Aesthetica Film Festival 
• Two invitations to a private view



£2,500 – Founding Supporter Benefactor

Help bring the Centre’s ambitions closer to reality and support a lasting cultural resource

• Everything included in the £1,000 tier


• Enhanced Centre for Contemporary Art membership and magazine subscription for two years
• Two invitations to a private preview or special event


• A project briefing on the Centre’s development


• Special recognition as a Founding Supporter Benefactor



£5,000 – Founding Supporter Champion

Become one of the leading supporters helping establish the Centre for Contemporary Art.

• Everything included in the £2,500 tier


• Enhanced Centre for Contemporary Art membership and magazine subscription for three years, subject to confirmation


• Premium artist print or special-edition artwork


• Four invitations to selected events


• Personal acknowledgement and prominent name-wall recognition, subject to final arrangements



Above £5,000 – Founding Patron

For those who wish to make a larger contribution, we welcome conversations about bespoke support and recognition.

Please contact Aesthetica to discuss how you could help shape the Centre’s future.

All supporter rewards are proposed and should be confirmed before publication, including costs, availability, fulfilment arrangements and any terms attached to event invitations or public recognition.

Every contribution matters. Whether you support us at £25, £250 or more, you will be helping to build a place where contemporary art can thrive and where future generations can discover new ways of seeing the world.

Help Us Make History

The De Grey Rooms has been at the heart of York for generations. Now, we have an opportunity to shape its next chapter.

The Centre for Contemporary Art will bring together international exhibitions, immersive installations and emerging creative voices, creating a new cultural destination for York and the wider region.

This is a chance to help establish something distinctive: a centre that honours the past, invests in contemporary creativity and creates opportunities for the future.

The Centre for Contemporary Art is progressing plans for a £1.9 million investment, and is seeking the final £250,000 through this campaign. Our target opening is Summer 2028, subject to project delivery and necessary approvals. Our ambition is to create a centre with lasting cultural value.

Whether you become a Friend of the Centre, a Founding Supporter or a major Founding Patron, you will be helping to create something that will benefit artists, audiences and communities for years to come.

Help give the De Grey Rooms a new purpose. Help create a home for contemporary art. Help make the Centre a reality.

Join us at the beginning. Learn more at centreforart.com.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 22nd January 2027 at 5:25pm