In late 2003, it became obvious that the renovations to the second level of the Queen Elizabeth II Library would reveal a long wall space that was previously hidden by book stacks.

Two of the library staff suggested that the space would be an excellent venue for hanging art, particularly art produced by the students of Memorial's Fine Arts program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

The idea was well received and tested with local gallery owners who noted a lack of space for hanging the works of emerging artists. The first exhibition was mounted in January 2004.

From its inception, First Space has been a work in progress, the first exhibition being mounted before the gallery was named and before the final wall treatment was installed.