Tag Archives: news

July 2026: CCT confirms continuing support of Sudbury Arts Centre

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On 2nd July 2026 the CCT confirmed that they would continue to support Sudbury Arts Centre once the funding from the Lottery Fund ceases at the end of October 2026 and they would be maintaining the existing staffing levels. The CCT recognises that the Arts Centre is currently loss making but they hope that an increased emphasis on income generation over the next three years will lead to financial sustainability.

The announcement in full is set out below:

Thank you again to everyone who attended the community meeting earlier this year at Sudbury Arts Centre, and for the continued energy and support you show for the space.

We’re really pleased to share a positive update following the quarterly CCT Trustee Board meeting in June. The Churches Conservation Trust has agreed to invest in a new three-year business plan for Sudbury Arts Centre when the National Lottery Heritage Funding period ends.

This represents a significant commitment from CCT to the future of the site. The plan retains the existing team staffing capacity, with a clear and strengthened focus on income generation, increasing activity, maximising use of the building, and building a sustainable operating model for the future while maintaining the Centre’s civic, cultural and community role.

We are confident that, over the three-year period, Sudbury Arts Centre can move towards financial sustainability. However, this investment does come with planned losses in the early years, currently forecast at £67k in year one and £30k in year two, as we build towards that position.

In order for the plan to succeed, we need to grow how much the building is used, through more events, hires, markets and café activity, and ensuring that the Centre continues to grow as a busy and valued part of the town.

Our biggest ask of you is to help make that happen. Please use the space where you can, encourage others to do the same, and consider how your organisation, networks or contacts might be able to bring activity into the building. The more the Centre is used and supported, the stronger its future will be.

We would also very much welcome any signposting to funding or grant opportunities, particularly over the next couple of years while CCT is making this significant investment.

The plan will be reviewed annually by Trustees to ensure we are on track and moving towards sustainability.

Thank you again for your continued support, it remains a crucial part of securing a long-term future for Sudbury Arts Centre.

Bridge Project announces closure

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On 14 March 2025 the Bridge Project Sudbury announced it was closing due to financial pressures. We believe their final day of operations will be 28 March with all staff being made redundant shortly after. This is a really really sad event for the users of the Bridge Project, the staff and volunteers at the Bridge and Sudbury Arts Centre and for Sudbury for whom the Sudbury Arts Centre was establishing itself as the go to venue.

What we will do: We, the Friends, will do our utmost to keep the Sudbury Arts Centre open after 28 March. We are working in close coordination with the Churches Conservation Trust, who are responsible for St Peter’s, to ensure the staff are kept on, the building kept open and for all events including those already booked and those yet to be booked to take place. For now a short term solution is required to ensure the building stays open, the staff stay employed and the venue continues to operate until a longer term solution can be put into place.

We have already spoken to the Sudbury Arts Centre staff to say that they have our full support to keep the venue going. We have been in contact with the Churches Conservation Trust who have assured us, at the highest level, that they are committed to keeping the building open and we have offered them our full support so this happens. Here is their most recent media release on their support for Sudbury Arts Centre.

We are sure that everyone in Sudbury and the nearby communities will be joining together to make sure this wonderful building continues to be a welcoming and exciting venue for everyone to enjoy. So – stay tuned for more news on how we can together make this happen.

This post .has been updated as of 22 March 2025 and we will update it as things develop.