This exhibition celebrates the 70th anniversary of Norfolk Contemporary Art Society (ncas). Since its founding in 1956, ncas has supported Norwich Castle to present work by innovative contemporary artists including Eduardo Paolozzi, Colin Self, Bridget Riley and Roger Ackling. Their work features in this display of more than thirty of the artworks ncas members have helped to collect over the past seven decades.

Recently supported acquisitions include Florence Peake's performance-based figurative paintings and photographic work by Daniel & Clara, which explores imagined narratives in a country estate. Work from Wall Existing, a multi-layered photographic survey of Norwich's medieval city walls by Robert Filby and Glen Jamieson is also exhibited.

These new additions to the collection are shown with highlights from the early decades of ncas' activity including Landscape with Farm Buildings (1954) by L.S. Lowry, a purchase which inspired the formation of ncas; and Man entering a Boiler House (c.1957) by Prunella Clough, which was the very first work collectively acquired by ncas members. Other artists featured in the exhibition include Ruth Ewan, Maggi Hambling, Nigel Henderson, Allen Jones, Frances Kearney, Penny Slinger, Mary Webb and many others.

ncas was established in 1956 to advance public engagement with the visual arts. Today, the Society has more than 600 members and runs a lively programme of talks and events. As well as supporting Norfolk Museums Service to collect contemporary art, ncas members award small grants to artists with strong links to Norfolk. They also give prizes to graduating fine art students at Norwich University of the Arts.