More than £15million has been pledged towards groups in Suffolk celebrating art, culture and creativity - a vital lifeline for an industry facing tough times. 

Arts Council England announced yesterday which groups would get to be part of its portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-26.  

Each year, 990 organisations will receive a share of £446million. For Suffolk, it means £5,366,518 annually will be split between 13 organisations - a total of more than £15m.  

One of these is the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, which will receive £222,000 each year. 

Artistic director Owen Calvert-Lyons explained that during the pandemic the theatre worked hard to deliver a variety of programmes focussing on supporting children with their literacy. 

He said: “Our creative learning department works with 9,000 children and families every year. Currently, we have to raise the funds for each of those individual projects. 

“This time, with core non-profit organisation funding, we can guarantee to those schools that we're going to come back keep delivering those high-quality projects, supporting children's literacy.” 

East Anglian Daily Times: Eastern Angles Theatre Company is set to receive a share of the funding.Eastern Angles Theatre Company is set to receive a share of the funding. (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

East Anglian Daily Times: The New Wolsey Theatre is among those set to receive funding.The New Wolsey Theatre is among those set to receive funding. (Image: Carl Lamb)

In Ipswich, East Angles Theatre Company is set to receive £224,457 per year. 

General manager Jess Baker said: “It is important to highlight that this renewed round of funding demonstrates how impressive East Anglia is in terms of a cultural offer, and we are incredibly lucky to have all these amazing organisations on our doorstep.  

“This support and funding will ensure Eastern Angles can continue its rural touring work across East Anglia.  

“We can also continue with the development of the Eastern Angles Centre in Ipswich, and our sister venue The Undercroft in Peterborough.” 

East Anglian Daily Times: The Food Museum in Stowmarket will also receive a share of funding.The Food Museum in Stowmarket will also receive a share of funding. (Image: Food Museum)

East Anglian Daily Times: The Food Museum used to be known as the Museum of East Anglian Life.The Food Museum used to be known as the Museum of East Anglian Life. (Image: Food Museum)

The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich will receive £953,000 a year from 2023 – 2026. This funding represents 30% of the organisation’s overall annual turnover with the rest generated through box office sales, fundraising, donations, and other sources.

In Stowmarket, the Food Museum is celebrating an annual sum of £358,218. 

Museum director, Jenny Cousins, said: “Lots of people and organisations are facing tough times at the moment, and museums are no exception.  

“This grant is a key piece of the funding jigsaw that the museum needs to put together each year to deliver our educational mission.  

“It is a real vote of confidence from the Arts Council in the work we are doing.’ 

The Suffolk organisations receiving funding from Arts Council England for 2023-26 are: 

First Light Festival CIC in Lowestoft – £222,000 a year.

Britten and Pears Art in Aldeburgh – £1,428,835 a year.

HighTide Festival Productions Ltd – £195,180 a year.

The Food Museum in Stowmarket – £358,218 a year.

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance – £66,196 a year.

Suffolk Libraries – £275,172 a year.

The Seagull Lowestoft - £100,000 a year.

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds – £222,000 a year.

Dance East in Ipswich – £825,060 a year.

Eastern Angles in Ipswich – £224,457 a year,

Gecko Theatre in Ipswich – £224,457 a year.

The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich – £953,328 a year.

Spill Festival Ltd in Ipswich – £271,615 a year.