Ipswich Receives £126,200 Grant to Reopen Christchurch Mansion Five Days a Week and Celebrate John Constable

Ipswich Secures £126,200 Grant to Enhance Christchurch Mansion and Local Museums

Ipswich Borough Council is delighted to announce that Colchester + Ipswich Museums (CIMS) will benefit from a £126,200 award from the newly launched Museum Renewal Fund. This fund, provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and administered by Arts Council England, supports museums directly maintained by local authorities, recognising the financial pressures councils face.

Increased Access to Christchurch Mansion

This grant offers a significant boost to Ipswich’s heritage offer, especially at Christchurch Mansion—one of the Borough Council’s most treasured heritage sites. Faced with unprecedented financial challenges, the Council had to reduce the Mansion’s opening hours to four days a week in April 2025. Thanks to this funding, Christchurch Mansion will soon reopen five days a week from 30 October, restoring greater public access to its free exhibitions and extensive collections.

Community Support from Friends of Ipswich Museums

Additional backing has come from the Friends of the Ipswich Museums, who have pledged £20,000 in 2026 to help secure Christchurch Mansion’s future. Richard Wilson, Chairman of the Friends, said:

“We are delighted to support the reopening of Christchurch Mansion to visitors on Thursdays each week once again. This is a vital step in ensuring that Ipswich’s rich history and cultural heritage remains accessible to all. The Friends are proud to play a part in supporting and promoting this much-loved museum and its important exhibits and collections.”

Reopening to Coincide with Autumn Half-Term and John Constable Celebrations

Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, added:

“I am very pleased that we are able to open Christchurch Mansion for five days a week from 30 October – thanks to the generous support of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Museum Renewal Fund, administered by Arts Council England, and the continued commitment of the Friends of the Ipswich Museums.

Starting during the busy autumn half-term school holidays, this initiative reinforces our dedication to keeping this beautiful, historic house freely accessible to all. With the upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations of John Constable, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors through the doors each week to experience the rich heritage, many events and exceptional exhibitions the Mansion has to offer.”

Looking Ahead to 2026: John Constable’s 250th Anniversary

CIMS is preparing for a landmark year in 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of Suffolk-born artist John Constable. Christchurch Mansion will host a series of once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions featuring internationally renowned Constable paintings and loans from prestigious institutions such as the National Gallery, Tate, V&A, Royal Academy, and National Galleries of Scotland.

Ongoing Redevelopments and Economic Benefits

This announcement comes as major redevelopment works continue at Ipswich Museum and Colchester’s Natural History Museum, both supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Since 2022, CIMS has secured approximately £13 million in capital funding from major partners including Arts Council England, Colchester City Council, Ipswich Borough Council, the Wolfson Foundation, Clore Duffield, and the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The six museums managed by CIMS attract around 200,000 visitors annually, contributing an estimated £6 million to the local economies of Ipswich and Colchester.

About Colchester + Ipswich Museums (CIMS)

Established in 2007, CIMS is a partnership between Ipswich Borough Council and Colchester City Council that jointly delivers museum services across Suffolk and Essex. It is the largest museum service in the region and manages the following venues:

• In Ipswich: Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich Art Gallery, and Ipswich Museum
• In Colchester: Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum, and the Natural History Museum

CIMS aims to foster communities where museums enrich lives, spark imagination, and deepen understanding.

Discover More

Now is a fantastic time to visit Christchurch Mansion and explore Ipswich’s rich cultural heritage. Stay updated about upcoming events, exhibitions, and ways to support your local museums by visiting www.cimuseums.org.uk.

For more news on Ipswich’s cultural activities and community events, keep visiting ipswich.love.