As part of their 70 th anniversary celebrations, the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) was back in Blake Studio on 16 April 2026 hosting a creative evening entitled “Being Woman”. It marked the culmination of a highly successful 40-day exhibition at Mandell’s Gallery on Elm Hill by a group of 26 local women creative artists. This event at Norwich School concluded their exhibiting together under the banner of “Being Woman” with a joyous (and at times poignant) celebratory evening of talks given by seven of their cohort in the Blake Studio. Their exhibition united intergenerational female artists from across Norfolk and Suffolk, offering a profound look at female archetypes and the human condition. Spanning disciplines from printmaking and collage to sculpture and textiles, the works they had displayed captured the evolving perspectives of women at different points in their lives and practices, exploring that it means to be a woman. See: ‘ Being Woman ’. N-cas had been a proud sponsor of the show and hosted this set of talks. An audience of members of the “Being Woman” creative group, n-cas members, alumni, staff and local creatives all appreciated the varied artistic styles on show and the heard powerful messages of struggle, of hope and of aesthetic creativity across the East Anglia. Also impressive was the palpable camaraderie between them all throughout proceedings. Heartfelt thanks go to their organisers Dr Andrea Hannon and Annette Rolston for bringing together such an inspiring evening. N-cas intends to be back on site in May and June with talks currently being firmed up. More anon… However, for those impatient for cultural gems this spring, the next talk in Blake will be with the Royal Geographical Society: a public lecture given by accomplished and award-winning wildlife cameraman and director Toby Hough, who is also a proud Old Norvicensian. His credits include work seen on Countryfile, The One Show, Springwatch and numerous BBC wildlife documentaries and travel programmes. His talk promises to be a memorable visual feast! Tickets are on sale here: RGS: Toby Hough - Lemurs to leopards: filming adventures from around the world . All are welcome. It takes place on Thursday 7 May 2026 at 19:30 in the Blake Studio.

On 08 April 2026, the school once again played host to our partners at the Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (n-cas) for their latest public lecture A talk entitled: ‘The Anatomy of a Painting’ was given by talented Norfolk-based artist, Martin Kinnear. Martin is an award-winning painter and Royal College of Art lecturer, with work of his even on display in 10 Downing Street! He has studied every aspect of fine art from techniques to grand masters. Consequently, his talk blended practical insight into his craft coupled with a deep understanding of the physical structure of paint – from pigments to surface finish. Employing the critical eye of a seasoned art-historian, he offered in-depth analysis of some much-loved fine art works including Turner, Van Goch and Monet. He attuned his audience to why great paintings work through layers of tone, colour, materials and meaning. He concluded by drawing on examples from his own practice and works in major collections, including some stunning, massive artworks, displaying a visual feast and riot of colour on the venue’s large screen. This year, n-cas is proudly celebrating 70 years of promoting contemporary art in our local region. As part of their festivities, their next event on Thursday 16 April comprises an exhibition entitled Being Woman at Mandell’s Gallery, open until 18.45 followed by a talk by some of the participating artists in the school’s Blake Studio beginning at 19:00. This event unites intergenerational female artists from across Norfolk and Suffolk, offering a profound look at female archetypes. Spanning disciplines from printmaking and collage to sculpture and textiles, the works on display capture the evolving perspectives of women at different points in their lives - a captivating journey through what it means to be a woman. No booking required. Date: Thursday 16 April Talk starts 19:00. Doors open shortly beforehand Visit Mandell’s Gallery Elm Hill, Norwich NR3 1HN before the talk, open until 18:45 Venue: Norwich School Blake Studio, Norwich NR1 4DD. Free car parking in playground Members £7.00, non-members £10.00, students FREE All pupils, parents, staff, friends and alumni are welcome