Before QUAD, there was Metro Cinema, Derby’s much-loved independent cinema that became a cultural landmark for film lovers across the city. From its opening in 1981 on Green Lane, Metro Cinema was a space for discovery, debate, and community, screening everything from international arthouse films to local shorts.

This exhibition draws from the Metro Cinema archive to celebrate its legacy and the role it played in shaping Derby’s cultural life. Through photographs, posters, and memorabilia, From Metro to QUAD reflects on the people, stories, and creativity that paved the way for QUAD as we know it today.

To coincide with this exhibition, QUAD”s Cine-Lit podcast is running a series of episodes to explore the programming history of the Metro cinema and discuss the changing face of British cinema exhibition over the period that it was open. Search for Cine-Lit wherever you get your podcasts from or listen at this page.