ESEA contemporary

ESEA contemporary is a contemporary-art organisation based in Manchester, England. It developed from the Chinese View Arts Association and the Chinese Arts Centre, organisations established in the late 1980s to address the limited visibility of Chinese cultural activity and Chinese-origin artists in the North West of England. Its work combined exhibitions, public education, artist development, community activity, research, advocacy and cultural exchange. The organisation opened its first Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester's Chinatown in 1989, receiving an official opening in January 1990. In its early years it worked as a community-facing cultural centre, using workshops, traditional arts activity, exhibitions and events to strengthen cultural identity while making Chinese culture more accessible to wider audiences. Its 1992 exhibition Beyond the Chinese Takeaway was an important early move toward contemporary-art programming focused on the experiences of British Chinese artists and the challenge of stereotypical representations. Following an external review in 1993, the organisation revised its mission and began placing greater emphasis on contemporary art, artist development and national advocacy. It moved from Chinatown to Manchester's Northern Quarter in 1997 and increasingly operated as a national agency for Chinese arts and culture. During this period it developed training schemes, commissioned new work, organised conferences and built international relationships. Touring exhibitions including Representing the People and Made in China connected UK audiences with contemporary practices from mainland China and helped establish the organisation as a significant specialist platform. A purpose-built venue on Thomas Street opened in 2003 after substantial Arts Council lottery support. The building included gallery, education, retail, hospitality, office and artist-residency facilities. The organisation later expanded its interest in live art, film, performance and cross-border collaboration, including China Live and related festival activity. In 2013 it adopted the name Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, or CFCCA, signalling a more explicitly contemporary and internationally oriented identity. It also partnered with the University of Salford on a Chinese contemporary-art collection and hosted activity connected with the Manchester China Forum. The organisation faced serious criticism in 2020 after public accusations concerning racism and institutional practice, alongside artist withdrawals from planned exhibitions. It initiated a Revisioning process and appointed an East and Southeast Asian artist working group to help redesign its structures and programming. The working group was subsequently dismissed after disagreements over allegations of institutional racism and the handling of complaints. The dispute became a major part of the organisation's recent public history and contributed to a period in which the venue closed and exhibition activity was interrupted. In 2023, the organisation rebranded as ESEA contemporary. The new name refers to East and Southeast Asian communities and diasporas and reflects an intended expansion beyond a narrowly China-centred remit. Under the new identity, it announced a new exhibition programme and resumed public-facing activity. Its continuing role is to commission, present and interpret contemporary art while supporting artists and engaging audiences around questions of identity, migration, representation, community and cultural power.

The organisation's origins lie in Manchester's late-1980s Black Arts Movement and in concerns that Chinese-origin artists and communities were receiving less cultural provision than African, Caribbean and South Asian communities. Artist and radio producer Amy Lai used the Eastern Horizon radio programme to organise Chinese View '86, a two-week festival of Chinese culture. In June 1987, Lai, Peter Chui, Jenny Clegg and David Wong established the Chinese View Arts Association as a charitable body intended to advance public education in Chinese culture. The association opened the Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester's Chinatown on 21 October 1989. It was formally opened in January 1990. Initially, the centre concentrated on community cohesion, traditional arts and crafts, workshops and accessible cultural education. Its programme gradually expanded toward contemporary art. Beyond the Chinese Takeaway in 1992 examined the experiences of second- and third-generation British Chinese artists and challenged simplified public images of Chinese communities. An external review in 1993 criticised the organisation's effectiveness and prompted a relaunch. The revised strategy combined traditional and contemporary practice with education, artist development, Chinese community engagement, arts promotion and advocacy. The centre staged city-wide Chinese New Year activities, introduced an arts-worker training scheme and broadened its partnerships. During the mid-1990s it also hosted part of British Art Show 4, gaining visibility within the wider UK visual-arts sector even though the venue did not control the show's artist selection. Financial pressure from a major reduction in core funding led the board to seek a new venue and strategic direction. Sarah Champion joined as Arts Development Coordinator in 1996 and became director when the centre moved to Edge Street in the Northern Quarter in 1997. The organisation increasingly shifted from a local Chinatown community centre to a contemporary-art and development agency with national ambitions. It developed international links, including relationships with organisations in mainland China, and produced Representing the People in 1999 with the Courtyard gallery in Beijing. The touring exhibition reportedly reached approximately 250,000 people. Made in China followed in 2001–2002 and focused on contemporary design from China. The agency role included national workshops, professional development and conferences on Chinese art. A major Arts Council of England lottery allocation supported acquisition and fitting out of a new building. The Thomas Street venue opened in November 2003 with gallery, teahouse, shop, resource, office and artist-residency facilities. It was designed by OMI Architects and later received a RIBA award. The opening presentation included a specially commissioned work by Xu Bing. Between 2005 and 2007, the centre developed substantial live-art activity through collaboration with Live Art UK, the DaDao Live Art Festival in Beijing and VITAL Festivals. The programme incorporated performances, screenings, talks and a conference involving artists from China and the Chinese diaspora. In October 2013, the Chinese Arts Centre became the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art. The rebrand placed greater emphasis on contemporary practice and on China's expanding cultural and economic significance. That year the centre also partnered with the University of Salford to develop a Chinese contemporary-art collection and hosted the launch of the Manchester China Forum. The organisation entered a difficult period in 2020 after public accusations of racism and institutional failures. Several artists withdrew from exhibitions, and the centre began a Revisioning project intended to improve organisational practice. An artist working group comprising Enoch Cheng, Whiskey Chow, Yuen Ling Fong, Gayle Chong Kwan, Eelyn Lee, Erika Tan and Jack Tan was formed to help co-design the future organisation. The group was later dismissed after disputes over its complaints and the centre's response. The controversy was followed by closure and an interruption of exhibition activity. In 2023, the organisation adopted the name ESEA contemporary. The rebrand broadened its stated cultural frame from Chinese contemporary art to East and Southeast Asian art and diasporic experience. It announced a new exhibition programme and began a new phase of public activity under the revised identity.

• 2023

  Rebrand as ESEA contemporary

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation adopted a name reflecting a broader East and Southeast Asian focus.

• 2013

  Chinese Arts Centre becomes CFCCA

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation adopted the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art name.

• 2003

  Thomas Street venue opens

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  A new purpose-designed venue opened in Manchester's Northern Quarter with gallery, education and artist facilities.

• 1999

  Representing the People tours

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  The centre produced a major touring exhibition of contemporary art from mainland China with Beijing's Courtyard gallery.

• 1997

  Move to the Northern Quarter

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  The centre moved from Chinatown to Edge Street and adopted a stronger contemporary-art and national-agency role.

• 1992

  Beyond the Chinese Takeaway

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation presented an early large-scale contemporary-art exhibition about British Chinese artists and identity.

• 1989

  First Chinese Arts Centre opens

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  The first centre opened in Frazer House in Manchester's Chinatown.

• 1987

  Chinese View Arts Association established

  [1]ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org

  Amy Lai, Peter Chui, Jenny Clegg and David Wong founded the charitable organisation that developed into the Chinese Arts Centre.

A specialist, socially engaged contemporary-art platform connecting Manchester and UK audiences with artists and practices associated with Chinese, East Asian and Southeast Asian communities and diasporas.

• Contemporary art · 1989

  Exhibitions

  The organisation's principal offering is a programme of temporary exhibitions presenting artists associated with Chinese, East Asian and Southeast Asian communities and diasporas. Exhibitions have included commissioned work, touring projects, emerging-artist presentations and historically significant surveys.

• Professional arts support · 1998

  Artist development and commissions

  ESEA contemporary has supported artists through commissions, residencies, training, professional development and opportunities to present new work. Its New Commissions scheme in the early 2000s produced exhibitions by emerging artists including Suki Chan, Lisa Cheung, Gayle Chong Kwan and Jiang Jiehong.

• Arts education · 1987

  Public learning and engagement

  Education has been central since the organisation's community-centre period. Activities have included artist-led workshops, talks, conferences, screenings, community events and programmes designed to improve understanding of Chinese, East Asian and Southeast Asian culture.

• Performance art · 2005

  Live and performance art programme

  Through partnerships in the mid-2000s, the centre presented live art, performance, film and artist discussions connected with China and the Chinese diaspora, including activity associated with China Live and VITAL Festivals.

• 2020

  Institutional racism controversy and artist withdrawals

  The organisation faced public accusations of racism and criticism that it normalised racist practices. Several artists withdrew from exhibitions. A working group created to support organisational revision was later dismissed after raising concerns about institutional racism and disputing the centre's handling of complaints.

  Source

Read more

• 2020Revisioning

  United Kingdom

  The centre launched an organisational change project after public criticism concerning racism and institutional practice.

  Outcome. The process produced a working group and ultimately preceded the organisation's 2023 rebrand, but was itself marked by conflict with participating artists.

  Source
• 2005China Live

  United Kingdom · China

  A collaboration with Live Art UK and Beijing's DaDao Live Art Festival promoted performance practices from China and the Chinese diaspora.

  Outcome. The project led into further festival, screening, talk and conference activity through 2007.

  Source
• 1994City-wide Chinese New Year programme

  Manchester

  Following its relaunch, the centre coordinated Chinese New Year activity across several Manchester arts venues, including the Greenroom, Cornerhouse and Dancehouse.

  Outcome. The programme strengthened the centre's city-wide cultural partnerships and public profile.

  Source

• 2023

  Rebrand as ESEA contemporaryStrategy

  Background

  The rebrand followed the Revisioning process and was intended to reflect a wider understanding of East and Southeast Asian identities and diasporas.

  Action taken

  The organisation adopted ESEA contemporary and announced a new exhibition programme.

  Aftermath

  The change marked a new phase of public activity after closure and a period of organisational controversy.

  Source

• 2013

  Adopt the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art identityStrategy

  Background

  The organisation sought to present itself as a future-facing contemporary-art institution responding to China's growing cultural influence.

  Action taken

  It replaced the Chinese Arts Centre name with Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art, commonly abbreviated CFCCA.

  Aftermath

  The organisation deepened contemporary-art, collection-building and government-linked cultural partnership activity.

  Source

• 2003

  Open a purpose-built Thomas Street venueStrategy

  Background

  The organisation secured Arts Council lottery support for a larger and more functional home.

  Action taken

  It opened a venue with gallery, education, retail, resource and artist-residency facilities.

  Aftermath

  The new building enabled a broader programme of exhibitions, commissions, public events and artist support.

  Source

• 1997

  Shift from community centre to national contemporary-art agencyStrategy

  Background

  The organisation faced funding pressure and wanted to reach artists, audiences and partners beyond Manchester's Chinatown.

  Action taken

  It moved to the Northern Quarter and expanded its focus toward contemporary art, artist development, national advocacy and international exchange.

  Aftermath

  The centre developed touring exhibitions, conferences, commissions and partnerships in the UK and overseas.

  Source

1. 1ESEA contemporaryen.wikipedia.org