The centre was established in 1989[1] and completed a £1.7 million capital development project in 2008.

[2] Across the eleven-acre site the centre holds ten buildings, including 24 low-cost artists' studios, a live-work space, specialist new media facilities, a large gallery, education facilities, a recording studio,[1] a ceramics studio[3] and a 17th-century grade II listed farmhouse which is used as accommodation for residencies and retreats.

[4] The main focus of the centre's activities is the international residency programme, but it also hosts temporary exhibitions, retreats, a programme for young artists, semi-permanent sculptural and architectural commissions and works on offsite projects with many other institutions nationally and internationally.

[8] Wysing was created in 1989 by founders Jenny and Terry Brooks and artists Annie and Age Bunnetat.

The group had a vision of an organisation which would provide space, time, funding and a creative environment to support visual arts practice without pre-defined outcomes.