East Suffolk Council

Culture in East Suffolk

In East Suffolk we are proud of our culture offering, and celebrate the rich diversity of our cultural, arts and heritage assets. We have a vibrant creative sector, full of fantastic local talent and originality, inspired by our magical coast, delightful towns and beautiful rural areas. This is reflected by the wealth of past and present artists and creatives, who not only contribute to our local economy, but provide a genuine sense of worth and pride for our communities. At East Suffolk Council we understand the transformative powers of culture in our places and our communities.

East Suffolk Council’s 2023 – 2028 Culture Strategy, developed in partnership with stakeholders, is guiding our efforts to boost growth of the creative sector and support increased engagement in cultural events and activities for residents of East Suffolk within the next five years.

East Suffolk Council have appointed a Cultural Development Lead, Janet Perry, who is a point of contact for the sector. Do not hesitate to contact Janet if you have any questions, development opportunities or projects you want to share or discuss: janet.perry@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.

East Suffolk Council continues to support cultural sector organisations, projects, programmes, and regeneration projects in a variety of ways, including First Light Festival CIC, Lowestoft Post Office, The Cultural Quarter, Think Lowestoft, Lowestoft Town Hall, St Elizabeth Hospice Art Trail, Cultural Connections Volunteering as well as supporting many town events and community focused activities.

East Suffolk’s creative industry can access business and grant support from East Suffolk Means Business. Support and Grants from East Suffolk Council - East Suffolk Means Business.

East Suffolk Council has been given funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support local businesses in East Suffolk, in addition to a further funding pot specifically for rural businesses and community organisations. As a result, there are a number of grant schemes currently open to applications, as well as free start-up support through business support agencies Menta and Nwes, free Net Zero consultancy from Groundwork East, and free business support available through the New Anglia Growth Hub.

Are you a cultural tourism destination in East Suffolk? Sign up for T-Stats. Free for East Suffolk businesses, T-Stats online analytics platform is supported by the Economic Development Team at East Suffolk Council. T-Stats provides essential insights for tourism businesses in East Suffolk, allowing you to compare and track performance locally. Input your data to see how you measure against local benchmarks, aiding in business planning and funding applications, while enhancing your area's offerings to visitors.

In 2024, ESC introduced a new Culture in East Suffolk network and newsletter tailored to the culture sector, to improve communication and share opportunities. Stay informed about funding opportunities, events, business support, case studies, and strategy developments by subscribing to the Culture in East Suffolk network newsletter.