QUAD is Derby's contemporary arts centre, opened in 2008 on the Market Place in a building designed by Alsop Architects. It combines a two-screen independent cinema, a gallery space for contemporary art exhibitions, and studio facilities for artists and filmmakers. The programme leans toward the experimental and international — you are more likely to find a retrospective of a Taiwanese director or a show of video art than mainstream releases.
The building itself is striking: a glass and concrete box whose ground floor opens directly onto the Market Place, making the lobby feel like an extension of the street. It operates as a year-round arts hub rather than just an exhibition space, hosting talks, workshops, and community events. There is a café on the ground floor that is open even when there are no screenings.