The gallery has a changing programme of exhibitions and events. It was originally built to house Sir Alfred East's painting collection, which he gave to the Borough of Kettering in 1910. It now holds a significant collection of 19th- and 20th-century works by many notable British artists, including East and Thomas Cooper Gotch, both born in Kettering. The collection is a valuable resource for research and enjoyment, although not all the works are on display at once.