It was established in 1990 in Derry, Northern Ireland to provide a creative outlet for youth culture and the many young people who feel excluded from the "arts sector".
By bringing popular music, film, video, animation and interactive multimedia together, the Nerve Centre aims to promote creative collaboration and fusion between young people working across the field of popular culture to support the youth and education sectors to embrace hands-on learning and training in the new digital technologies.
From the early 1990s, the Nerve Centre has operated on a regional basis organising music programmes, animation and video projects for young people throughout Northern Ireland.
The Nerve Centre is a registered charity managed by a board of directors that includes representatives from the education, arts, business and funding sectors.
The Nerve Centre promotes creative collaboration between artists and tries to provide a cultural outlet for many young people who feel excluded from what is traditionally regarded as the "arts sector".