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About Us

The UK’s only non-profit institution specialising in presenting and platforming artists and art practices that are informed by East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) heritages.

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Plan your visit
We are open today from 12am – 5pm.
We are open today from 10am – 5pm.
We are open today from 10am – 5pm.
We are open today from 10am – 5pm.
We are open today from 10am – 5pm.
We are open today from 10am – 1:30pm.
We are closed today.
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What's On

Exhibitions
Dinu Li: A Phantom’s Vibe
Current
Upcoming
Past
Exhibition
Dinu Li: A Phantom’s Vibe
from
22
July
2023
until
29
October
2023
‘A Phantom’s Vibe’ is a solo exhibition by artist Dinu Li, featuring newly commissioned and existing works that combine music, sculptural assemblages, and video installation. The exhibition explores the complexities of colonial history, cultural memory, and hybrid identities.
Practise Till We Meet
Current
Upcoming
Past
Exhibition
Practise Till We Meet
from
18
February
2023
until
28
May
2023
Practise Till We Meet explores diasporic experiences, the condition of migration, and the adaptations required to make a new life in a new place, featuring works by Asia-Art-Activism, Asian Feminist Studio for Art and Research, Audrey Albert, Isaac Chong Wai, Koki Tanaka, Liu Weiwei and Mimian Hsu.

Featured

Events
Artist Talk with Jinjoon Lee: Manufactured Nature
Event
Communities in the Making
Artist Talk with Jinjoon Lee: Manufactured Nature
from
until
7
October
2023
11:00 - 12:00
Join artist Jinjoon Lee for an online talk, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK)'s ongoing exhibition 'Jinjoon Lee: Audible Garden'.
Colour & Corks: A Special Wine Tasting Workshop celebrating ESEA Heritage Month
Event
Communities in the Making
Colour & Corks: A Special Wine Tasting Workshop celebrating ESEA Heritage Month
from
until
28
September
2023
18:00 - 20:00
Join wine writer Kelly Liang for an engaging evening of wine tasting and stories celebrating ESEA Heritage Month.
A Talk by Adele Patrick: The Power, Purpose and Politics of Publishing Otherwise
Event
Publishing Otherwise
A Talk by Adele Patrick: The Power, Purpose and Politics of Publishing Otherwise
from
until
23
September
2023
16:00 - 17:30
As a part of 'Publishing Otherwise,' we invite you to join Adele Patrick on-site as she shares her decades-long work and contributions as an artist, feminist, and co-founder of Glasgow Women's Library.
Publication Launch: ‘Dinu Li: A Phantom’s Vibe’
Event
Publishing Otherwise
Publication Launch: ‘Dinu Li: A Phantom’s Vibe’
from
until
24
September
2023
13:00 - 15:00
Join Dinu Li in conversation with Michael Mason and Xiaowen Zhu at esea contemporary for the launch of the artist's latest publication, 'A Phantom’s Vibe,' which accompanies his eponymous solo exhibition at the gallery.
Artist-led tour: 'Dinu Li: A Phantom's Vibe'
Event
Artist-led tour: 'Dinu Li: A Phantom's Vibe'
from
until
19
August
2023
14:00 - 15:00
Join artist Dinu Li in the gallery for a guided tour of his solo exhibition ‘A Phantom's Vibe.
Saturday Guided Tours: 'Dinu Li: A Phantom's Vibe'
Event
Saturday Guided Tours: 'Dinu Li: A Phantom's Vibe'
from
29
July
2023
until
28
October
2023
Every Saturday, tours begin at 11:00 and 14:00
Join a member of the esea contemporary team in the gallery for a guided tour of esea contemporary’s exhibition ‘Dinu Li: A Phantom's Vibe’.
Publishing Otherwise: A Slow Book Fair for Coexistence
Event
Communities in the Making
Publishing Otherwise: A Slow Book Fair for Coexistence
from
15
August
2023
until
15
October
2023
10:00 - 17:00
Explore a growing book display in our Communal Project Space, accompanied by both live and virtual talks, workshops and many free events on the theme of coexistence.
Communities in the Making
Event
Communities in the Making
from
5
June
2023
until
30
November
2023
10:00 - 17:00
‘Communities in the Making’ is an ongoing series of events that unites community-led and process-driven approaches to fostering co-existence amongst diverse underrepresented cultures and communities in Manchester.
Director's Letter

Dear esea contemporary Community,

It is with great pleasure that we relaunch esea contemporary, previously known as the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA), 36 years after its birth as an artist-initiated, community-oriented arts festival in Manchester.

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