Nottingham has a reputation for creativity - our events and attractions for arts and culture range from the classical to the contemporary.

This year will be no different, Nottingham Castle hosts an exhibition by local painter Paul Sandby who has become known as the father of the water colour school. In late 2009, Nottingham Contemporary will open as a world class contemporary arts and culture venue.

You can search through a range of Nottingham arts and culture attractions from our main website.

Art venues and exhibitions in Nottinghamshire

As well as Nottingham Contemporary and Nottingham Castle, the city has further excellent arts venues hosting some outstanding exhibitions.

The Yard Gallery at Wollaton Hall has a growing international reputation with many works from local artists and at Lakeside Arts Centre is an arts venue with an exciting programme of events all year round including Lustre, a craft, decorative arts and interior design exhibition in November.

In the county, we’re fortunate to have a resident royal sculptor in Gordon Brown at Longdale Craft Centre and you can see him working on his latest commission together with a recreated Victorian craft village. The Harley Gallery is situated in the ducal estate of Welbeck and the exhibitions include crafts, visual arts, photography and design.

You can see our top five recommended museums and galleries on our city breaks site for more details on arts venues and exhibitions in Nottinghamshire.

Nottingham cultural literary heroes

The landscape of the county and intricacies of the city of Nottingham have inspired great literary heroes throughout the years.

Lord Byron was a poet with a reputation and a political activist too. You can find out more about the man at Newstead Abbey or stay at Colwick Hall Hotel, both former homes.

The controversial novelist DH Lawrence depicted the Nottinghamshire landscape throughout his books and you can visit his birthplace at the DH Lawrence Birthplace Museum. You can also take time to look at some of the settings for his books, Teversal Manor was the inspiration for Wragby Hall in Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Finally, Alan Sillitoe is an Honorary Freeman of Nottingham given his literary achievements that include Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, the Loneliness of a Long Distant Runner and Birthday. A true great in our time, he justly deserves the accolades that he receives.

For details of all of these authors and more, see our famous people pages.