About Anteros
WHAT DO WE DO?
We are an arts charity set up in 2010 dedicated to the education and promotion of the arts in Norfolk, utilising a city centre location in Norwich to offer exhibition spaces and art classes.
Housed in an ancient Tudor merchant's house that is grade 2* listed, we have two gallery spaces with a year-long free to enter exhibition programme. Upstairs in the Music Room, we have a busy programme of music featuring artists from the UK and abroad. Genres include classical, jazz and folk. Throughout the building we have 11 artists' studios which are often open for Norfolk Open Studios, or by appointment. See our studio holder page for more information on our resident artists. We also have two rooms for hire for meetings, workshops, weddings, parties, photoshoots and more.
The Anteros Arts Foundation is entirely self-funded: no Arts Council funding, no Lottery Heritage grants. To maintain the building and staff our reception we rely entirely on studio rents and venue hires for our survival. The gallery spaces are self-sufficient, artist's pay to rent the spaces and Anteros takes a modest commission on sales. Likewise, the courses and Diploma are run at cost. If you would like to make a donation to help with running costs and future planning, you can do so here.
We have just embarked on a 3 year business plan from 2022 - 2024. You can download a copy here.
OUR VISION
We believe art is fundamental to people’s wellbeing and that it should be open to everyone.
We will provide Norfolk with a welcoming and supportive arts venue which champions East Anglian artists and brings art to all.
We will provide access to art through educational opportunities and access to a programme of exhibitions.
With a warm welcome and its unique historic character, Anteros provides a relaxing environment to learn, see and experience the arts in the centre of Norwich.
OUR MISSION
‘to make art accessible to everyone’
As a charity, Anteros Arts Foundation aims:
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To offer quality fine art courses for all levels of practice
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To exhibit a diverse and varied selection of fine art exhibitions that are free to enter and reasonably priced for artists
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To programme high quality music events at affordable prices
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To strive, where possible, to offer opportunities for learning alongside our exhibitions
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To promote social inclusion through the arts by providing a safe, informative and friendly place to visit
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To maintain a grade II* listed building and keep it open to the public
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To offer opportunities to engage with art for all ages
OUR HISTORY
The Anteros Arts Foundation was originated following conversations between Aude Gotto, Managing Director of the King of Hearts Charitable Trust and John Hemmant. In 2009 the trustees at the King of Hearts – a venue well known for its chamber music concert series and gallery - were looking for a way to finish their twenty-year tenure in the Edmund Wood Merchant’s House on Fye Bridge. John was operating an artists' retreat and education centre in Bergh Apton. Aude was anxious that the building would continue to be used for the arts, by a charity, and that its rich heritage would remain accessible to the public. The Anteros Arts Foundation was created in response to this opportunity and successfully went on to tender for the head lease of the site.
In Greek mythology, Anteros (Ancient Greek: Ἀντέρως Antérōs) - the brother of Eros, is the god of requited love, literally "love returned" or "counter-love". The Anteros Arts Foundation strives to be a relevant resource to the local community, it is our pleasure to provide this space for the arts in Norwich: a place to meet one another, share ideas and feel at ease. Nothing makes us happier than to find that love returned and passed on, whether by an artist setting up their first teaching workshops in our classrooms, tutors visiting student exhibitions and offering feedback, or parents and teachers using the library and exhibition spaces to introduce a love of art to the next generation.