SEE

Visit our exhibitions and events, enjoy our Sculpture Park and discover our range of events.

Why Do We Take Drugs?

Through a six-month season of interlinked exhibitions and programmes, the Sainsbury Centre explores the question Why Do We Take Drugs? From alcohol and caffeine to ayahuasca and heroin, this season uses art to take visitors on a journey of investigation, inviting audiences to explore the world of global drug cultures from illegal to familiar across one mind-blowing museum landscape.

14 September- 27 April 2025

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Power Plants: Intoxicants, Stimulants and Narcotics

For millennia people have used the psychoactive properties of plants as an integral part of social, ceremonial and religious life. The show will reference global artefacts that are connected with the traditional consumption of tobacco and snuff, betel nut, kava, tea and palm wine, alongside an exploration of the sacred, hallucinogenic cactus, peyote.

14 September- 2 February 2025

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Ayahuasca & Art of the Amazon

This exhibition considers the impact of the mind-altering, psychotropic vine – ayahuasca – within Western Amazonian social life. It explores how the ritual consumption of ayahuasca is linked to their artistic production.

14 September- 2 February 2025

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Enjoy October Half Term at the Sainsbury Centre

Visit the Sainsbury Centre this Half Term for fun activities and artistic inspiration for all the family.

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Living Art: Six Ways to Enjoy This Unique Experience

This display dramatically reimagines how we can revitalise the cross-cultural conversations that were established at the foundation of the Sainsbury Centre in the 1970s.

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VISIT

Discover how to make the most of your visit to the Sainsbury Centre, from booking tickets to exploring the galleries.

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Getting here

Everything you need to know about travel, tickets, and more.

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Plan your visit

Must-see objects from the collection, suggestions for self-guided visits and our immersive audio experience.

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Usagi Kannon, L.240, 2012–2020, Leiko Ikemura. Courtesy the artist. Photo by Kate Wolstenholme.

Autumn at the Sainsbury Centre

Unwind and explore at the Sainsbury Centre! We have something for everyone.

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Channel

Immerse yourself in our content hub, exploring the life stories of our living collection.

Can photographs tell the truth? We asked four photojournalists

The Camera Never Lies: Challenging images through the Incite Project (part of the What Is Truth? season at the Sainsbury Centre), explores whether an image captured by an individual photographer, choosing one angle, with a singular crop, can show the whole truth of an event.

Artist Talk: Yuki Kihara and Karen Jacobs

Artist Yuki Kihara was recently in conversation with Karen Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Sainsbury Research Unit. Their talk covered Paradise Camp and its ongoing development, exploring the artist’s intersectional themes such as gender, museum collections, climate change and colonisation.

The Camera Never Lies: A Conversation on Truth & Photography with Harriet Logan and Tristan Lund

Part of the Sainsbury Centre’s What Is Truth? season, The Camera Never Lies: Challenging images through The Incite Project, is curated by Harriet Logan and Tristan Lund. We hear from Harriet Logan and Tristan Lund on the topics of the show and the founding of the extensive photographic collection.

Truth Beyond the Frame: Stuart Franklin shares the story behind The Tank Man photo

Can a single photo capture truth? One image which has been the main source of information for a historic event is Magnum photographer Stuart Franklin’s image of The Tank Man. We spoke to Stuart Franklin about the historic event in Tiananmen Square and taking the famous image.

Dear Art

Since our relaunch in 2023, visitors can choose from a range of digital, analogue and experiential pathways to build new relationships with art in the museum.

LEARN

Explore art through our dynamic programme of events and free resources for all ages.

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Families & Young People

Learn, create and discover in our engaging events for families and young people.

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Community

Find out how we work with schools, colleges and our local community.

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Online Studio

Look, make and share with our Associate Artists. Free creative activities for all ages.

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JOIN & SUPPORT

The Sainsbury Centre wouldn’t exist without the generosity of others.

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Become a Member

Includes free entry to special exhibitions, exclusive preview events, discounts and more.

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Magdalene Odundo Private View. Photo: Andi Sapey

Exhibition Circle

Enjoy exclusive curator-led tours, visits to artists’ studios and engage with others with a passion for art.

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Corporate Support

Support the social impact of our programmes alongside one-of-a-kind team building opportunities.

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