Arts and culture
Mid Suffolk and Babergh’s Culture, Heritage and Visitor Economy Strategy 2023 – 2028
This five-year plan sets out our ambition to shape the future growth and resilience of the Cultural, Heritage and Visitor Economy sectors across the districts. It outlines our priorities in partnership with cultural organisations, businesses, individuals, education and health partners.
Read the 2023-2028 Culture, Heritage and Visitor Economy Strategy here
Read Culture, Heritage and Visitor Economy Strategy Action Plan here
Read Strategy progress to date March 2023 - February 2024 here
How do we we support arts and culture across the district?
- We ensure villages and towns thrive through a collaborative approach. The creation of culture groups within our main market towns has made culture more accessible to all
- Cultural Placemaking - the combination of assets of heritage, culture, people, buildings and landscape, to create places for people to fall in love with
- We work with partners to build higher levels of cultural participation, and manage strategic programmes and projects
- We support residents to start well, live well and age well, using culture to improve health and wellbeing
- We develop innovative partnerships between cultural providers and educational institutions, which improve cultural education provision for children and young people
- We offer fundraising and project advice and guidance
- We offer capital and revenue grants
Which arts and heritage organisations and services do we invest in?
- DanceEast the national dance development agency
- John Peel Centre for Creative Arts a multi-purpose arts venue in Stowmarket
- The Food Museum the UK’s Food Museum with a mission to connect people with where our food comes from and the impact of our choices: past, present and future.
- Wingfield Barns a community venue, studio and gallery complex in the heart of Suffolk
- Orchestras Live the national orchestral development charity
- Gainsborough House the childhood home of Thomas Gainsborough and national centre for the exploration of Gainsborough’s art,
- Quay Theatre a professional theatre based in Sudbury
- Sudbury Arts Centre a vibrant arts venue in the heart of Sudbury High Street
- Screen Suffolk the official film office for Suffolk. Offers support from the initial enquiry stage, through to crew sourcing and permitting
- Suffolk Artlink , a participatory arts charity that brings creativity into the heart of communities in Suffolk. *NEW
- Association of Suffolk Local Museums, an independent charity and membership body for museums throughout Suffolk. *NEW
- Stowmarket Arts CIC, is a community-focused organisation dedicated to providing accessible, inclusive, and affordable creative arts opportunities for local residents and artists alike *NEW
- Stowmarket Culture Group, a professional network for organisations delivering cultural activity in Stowmarket* NEW
- East Anglian Traditional Music Trust, is a registered charity based in Suffolk, which aims to promote awareness of and participation in the folk music traditions of East Anglia. *NEW
- ERD Connection, produces high quality participatory arts and culture activities for local people in Suffolk. *NEW
Please email bmsdctourismandculture@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk to learn more, or phone 01449 724638 (Monday – Thursday)
Suffolk Culture Network
The Suffolk Culture Network is for people delivering communications, marketing and audience development in the cultural sector.
Email thomas.beese@suffolk.gov.uk if you would like to join the Suffolk Culture Network.
Suffolk Cultural and Creative newsletter
The Suffolk Cultural and Creative newsletter is a fortnightly publication which aims to improve the sharing of information between:
- arts practitioners
- arts organisations
- non-arts organisations
- local government
- regional and national bodies across Suffolk
Subscribe to the Suffolk Cultural and Creative newsletter
New Anglia LEP Culture Board's Manifesto 'Culture Drives Impact'
The manifesto, published by the Norfolk and Suffolk Culture Board, sets out how they intend to drive impact.