About Us

The UK’s only non-profit institution specialising in presenting and platforming artists and art practices that are informed by East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) heritages.

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We are open today from 12pm till 5pm.
We are open today from 10am till 5pm.
We are open today from 10am till 5pm.
We are open today from 10am till 5pm.
We are open today from 10am till 5pm.
We are open today from 10am till 5pm.
We are closed today.
We are recruiting new Trustees and Head of Operations
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What's On

Exhibitions
Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風
Current
Upcoming
Past
Exhibition
Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風
from
25
October
2025
until
11
January
2026
'Smooth Sailing, 一路順風’ is the first institutional solo exhibition by Marcos Kueh—an emerging artist whose richly layered textile works has been increasingly recognised on the international stage. This exhibition introduces new materials and processes while deepening his ongoing exploration of cross-cultural histories, diasporic identity, and collective memory.

What's On

Events
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What's On

Residencies
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What's On

Projects
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No items found. Check out our Exhibitions Page?
No items found. Check out our Exhibitions Page?
No items found. Check out our Exhibitions Page?
Voicing the Archive
Project
Voicing the Archive
from
15
January
2025
until
25
May
2025
2025-01-15
Originally commissioned as a series of audio-visual works, 'Voicing the Archive' reimagines the histories of early Chinese migration to Britain—a narrative often marginalised in official records and excluded from dominant historical discourse.
Voicing the Archive
Project
Voicing the Archive
from
15
January
2025
until
25
May
2025
2025-01-15
Originally commissioned as a series of audio-visual works, 'Voicing the Archive' reimagines the histories of early Chinese migration to Britain—a narrative often marginalised in official records and excluded from dominant historical discourse.
Exhibition Preview 'Thresholds of Becoming'
Event
Exhibition Preview 'Thresholds of Becoming'
from
until
20
February
2026
18:00 - 20:00
2026-02-20
Join us for the preview of 'Thresholds of Becoming', featuring works by Nicole Coson, Xin Liu, Charmaine Poh, Minoru Nomata, Yang Yongliang, and Yin Aiwen.
Saturday Guided Tour: 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風'
Event
Saturday Guided Tour: 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風'
from
1
November
2025
until
3
January
2026
14:00 - 14:30
2026-01-03
Every first Saturday of the month, join a staff member in the gallery for a free guided tour of 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風.'
Director's Letter

Dear esea contemporary community,

In poetry, we seek refuge; in art, we discover possibility. These words often return to me as I reflect on the city we call home—Manchester, a place where histories of movement, labour, and resistance are woven into its very fabric.

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