The Norfolk Artists' Gallery Lobby was established through the initiative of Lynda Morris, Gallery Coordinator at the Norwich School of Art, after an initial grant of £1200 was received from the Eastern Arts Association in 1985. In November of that year, Lynda called a meeting of artists and interested parties, and it was agreed to search for a gallery space suitable for the establishment of a visual arts exhibition programme by and primarily for Norfolk artists. Initially, the Contact Gallery premises were leased for six years from the Norwich City Council, and were first open for viewing in October 1986. In addition to exhibitions, many artists also ran workshops and other events at the gallery. Admission was free.
Before negotiating for the lease of 56 St Benedict's Street, the Gallery Lobby sought expert advice from the Norfolk Arts Projects Officer, Michael Hooton and from the Co-operative Development Agency. It also registered a secondary co-operative, entitled, Norfolk Artists Gallery, with legal status under the Friendly Societies Act. A trust deed was completed and application was made for charitable status, with the object being to 'promote public awareness of the Visual Arts in Norfolk'.
The Contact Gallery was funded by grants from the Eastern Arts Board, Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council, and through sponsorship from members and friends, local businesses and various private trusts. A Friends of Contact organisation was established.
One of the Gallery's Enabling Teams was responsible for the establishment and operation of an education (for schools and colleges) programme of events. This was an important feature of the Gallery's charitable status and applications for public funding. In particular, work experience schemes, and the Broadland Council's LVQ in Arts Administration was enthusiastically adopted by the Gallery.
In September 1990, it established a permanent art exhibition space in the redundant church of St Margaret, across the street from Contact Gallery. Their control of this venue ceased in February 1997.
In 1999, the Gallery, under severe financial contraint, closed the gallery and gave up the lease of 56 St Benedict's Street.