Accessible to all, QUAD’s varied cultural offer encourages growth, development and wellbeing for audiences, enabling access to the arts for a wide range of abilities and interests. Friendly and informed staff provide a welcome to all in a space for anyone to engage and connect.

QUAD’s Artistic programme includes local, national and internationally significant exhibitions, commissions and residencies. We showcase work by local artists and students from University of Derby and beyond alongside professional practice opportunities and mentoring support for early and mid-career artists. Our regular programme of educational and creative wellbeing-focused workshops complement a range of contextual talks and events throughout the year. QUAD’s programme includes FORMAT International Photography Festival, one of the UK’s leading festivals of photography and related media.

We provide creative participatory and learning opportunities for people in a welcoming and supportive environment for visitors and participants of all ages. We collaborate and work in partnership to deliver activities that have made a positive impact on people’s lives. Our education, learning and participation programmes involves local and regional communities in innovative arts programmes to develop skills, engage and contribute to contemporary culture.

QUAD is funded by Arts Council England, The British Film Institute and supported by Derby City Council

QUAD’s film and cinema programme shows the best in Independent, International and Hollywood cinema as well as event cinema such as NT Live. We aim to nurture talent by showcasing regional filmmakers and offering regular introductions, Q&As and film courses.

QUAD champions the creative development of emergent digital technologies including AR, VR, AI, game engine, projection mapping and interactive media.

QUAD’s first Patron was the late Sir John Hurt CBE; current Patrons include: Paddy Considine, John Tams, Jack O’Connell, Hetain Patel, Dr. Jo Twist, Paul Carr and Molly Windsor.

QUAD first opened on Friday 26 September 2008, born out of a partnership between two well established Derby organisations, Metro Cinema & Q Arts. Metro Cinema opened on Green Lane (the original site of the Derby Central School of Art) in January 1981. It was the first independent outside of London cinema with an excellent reputation of bringing the best of world cinema to Derby. Q Arts was established in 1998, building on the foundations of Derby Community Arts, which itself had twenty years heritage and collaborated with thousands of Derby people.