Community Kitchen: bringing cuisine, culture, and connection to Nottingham’s New Art Exchange
By admin
“Everyone is welcome and no one is turned away for lack of funds. They can sit down, enjoy a great meal and get to know their local community.”
Nottingham’s diverse communities are benefiting from an initiative that brings them together in an inclusive and welcoming space to enjoy healthy food, experience new cultures and forge new friendships in the City.
New Art Exchange (NAE) in Hyson Green began Community Kitchen (previously known as Community Cafe) in 2022 as a grassroots response to rising inflation and lingering isolation following the COVID-19 lockdowns. What started as a simple gesture, offering warm, plant-based meals to anyone who needed them, has since grown into a monthly food and culture event which is a key part of NAE’s community programme.
Usually taking place on the first Thursday of every month at Corner, NAE’s café bar, the event invites residents and visitors alike to come together over a delicious, plant-based meal inspired by a different world cuisine. More than just a meal, the evenings are a celebration of multiculturalism, community care, and inclusive hospitality. With a no-one-turned-away policy, Community Kitchen ensures good food and cultural connection are accessible to all, regardless of income or background.
Hyson Green resident, Winnie, is a regular visitor and says coming to Community Kitchen is not just about a free meal. “It’s about the atmosphere and the connection,” she says. “It gives me a reason to come out of the house, and I always leave feeling more connected and uplifted.”
NAE’s executive director, Adam Roe, says that Community Kitchen is NAE’s way of giving something back to the local area. “Times are tough and we know not everyone can afford a decent hot meal every day,” he explains. “So we wanted to create a space where that’s not a barrier. Everyone is welcome and no one is turned away for lack of funds. They can sit down, enjoy a great meal and get to know their local community.
“Each month we base the meal on a different culture or heritage, so people get to try something new and celebrate the diversity of our community. What matters is that everyone feels welcome and part of something bigger.” Corner is a creative, inclusive space where people can feel at home and connect with others. Sitting down together, sharing food and a chat, can make such a difference to people’s general wellbeing and that’s what Community Kitchen is all about.”
NAE’s marketing and events manager, Olga Andrade, says the food for Community Kitchen is sourced from local shops and trusted suppliers. “Each month a new menu is created and freshly prepared, ensuring our community receives high-quality meals at each event,” she explains. “We regularly consult with our community to ensure the menus reflect their needs and preferences and, looking ahead to 2026, we plan to provide opportunities for local people to get involved, learn new skills, and play an active role in shaping and supporting the project alongside our team.”
The next date in Community Kitchen’s calendar is a special edition which will celebrate Bengali cuisine as part of Nottingham MELA (11th-14th September). Held on 11th , a week later than usual, the evening will see delicious vegan Bengali meals served from 5-7pm and drinks will be available to buy at the Café. Visitors will be able to visit NAE’s art gallery where they can enjoy its bold, diverse and stimulating ‘OPEN 2025’ exhibition.
The evening will also feature a free film screening of witty, heartfelt British film, Bhaji on the Beach. The film follows a group of British Indian women from different generations who take a day trip to Blackpool. As tensions rise and secrets surface, the women confront personal and cultural challenges, from arranged marriages to racism, while exploring freedom, identity, and solidarity in a seaside setting.
Winnie says she is looking forward to her next visit, particularly now free cinema screenings have been added to the monthly events. “Nottingham doesn’t have many spaces showing international films, so being able to watch stories from other parts of the world is a great addition to these evenings, she says.”
Free tickets for The Bengali Kitchen can be booked here: The Bengali Kitchen Tickets, Thu, Sep 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite
Free tickets for Bhaji on the Beach can be booked here: Film Screening: Bhaji on the Beach Tickets, Thu, Sep 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite
Issued by The Tonic Communications. Distributed by WebPR UK.
About The Tonic Communications
NEW ART EXCHANGE The New Art Exchange (NAE) is a pioneering creative space in Hyson Green, Nottingham. We’re the UK’s largest gallery dedicated to contemporary visual arts from the Global Ethnic Majority. We set out to reshape the contemporary art narrative by championing diversity and inclusivity and by providing a platform for underrepresented voices in the art world. NAE is not just a gallery - you’ll find it a vibrant hub of creativity and culture, actively breaking down barriers to make art accessible and engaging for everyone. We’re all about community connection and transforming ideas into opportunities for artistic and cultural expression. Our focus on co-design and collaboration means we nurture citizen leadership by allowing local voices to guide how we do things. We are the first cultural institution in the world to establish a permanent citizen assembly as a key part of our leadership. This is how we ensure continuous community representation and involvement. We have an international outlook here at NAE - engaging in global dialogues and collaborations that enrich our programmes and extend our reach. This strengthens our role in the international art community and amplifies our mission of celebrating diversity and connecting different cultures on a global scale. www.nae.org.uk NOTTINGHAM MELA Nottingham MELA is an annual festival celebrating South Asian Arts in Nottingham. The festival takes place from 11th - 14th September hosted by Nottingham Asian Arts Council, Nottingham City Council, and New Art Exchange. The vibrant, family-friendly MELA programme runs over four days and features live music, dance, storytelling, comedy, poetry, workshops and a Bengali meal created by CORNER cafe, part of NAE’s The Community Kitchen initiative. The programme includes events for all ages and interests, and they are all free, with a mix of drop-in and pre-booked sessions. NAE OPEN 2025 The NAE Open returns for its fifth edition with a bold, diverse and stimulating exhibition showcasing painting, video, live art, photography, textiles and sculpture. Selected through a competitive open call, the featured works are by Nottinghamshire-based artists and artists from the global ethnic majority* across the UK. A panel of neighbours, artists and curators reviewed an exceptional range of submissions to choose the most original, high-quality pieces. The resulting exhibition brings together artists at different stages of their careers, exploring themes and issues that resonate today. The artworks reflect the breadth of NAE’s mission, from personal stories of migration and identity to questions of belonging, culture, politics, and place. Many pieces speak directly to life in Nottingham-its people, stories, and ever-evolving landscape. NAE will award two prizes: a future exhibition opportunity and a creative residency. *NAE uses the term Global Ethnic Majority to describe people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual heritage, Indigenous to the global south, and/or have been racialised as ethnic minorities. The exhibition closes on Saturday 13th September at 5pm.
Designated Media Inquiries
Jayne Russell