Brighten The Corners welcomed businesses, community groups, entrepreneurs, and artists from across Ipswich last night to share their ideas for The Baths’ £1.92 million regeneration project.
The public community event, held at The Church on St Stephen’s Lane, gave attendees the chance to discuss plans for transforming the venue and contribute ideas for the Creative Digital Skills Hub offering, ahead of its reopening in Spring 2027. From podcast workshops and digital marketing masterclasses to community filmmaking projects, suggestions on how to use the space came from all corners of the Ipswich community.
The evening was hosted by Marcus Harris-Noble, recently appointed Director of Engagement and Skills at Brighten The Corners, who is leading The Baths regeneration project. Marcus previously managed the Croydon Creative Enterprise Zone programme in South London and played a key role in Croydon’s successful bid to become the 2023 London Borough of Culture.
Marcus said: “It was fantastic to see so many local people come together to share their ideas and enthusiasm for the regeneration project. Conversations in the room really showed an appetite for sustainable creative learning in Ipswich. These early ideas will play a vital role in shaping the Creative Digital Skills Hub offering over the coming months, and we’re looking forward to working with our partners to transform The Baths into a cultural hub for generations to come.”
Ed Ngai, Director of Community Hub Ipswich (CHIp), attended the event and added: “It felt important to be part of a community conversation that is shaping the future of one of our town’s most iconic venues. Projects like this are exactly what Ipswich needs – vibrant spaces for creativity, learning, and collaboration. Hearing so many local voices contribute ideas shows just how much potential there is right on our doorstep.”
With a rich history as St Matthew’s swimming baths, social club, gym, and pop-up music venue, The Baths is set for a major transformation. The currently unused first-floor space will become a Creative Digital Skills Lab, featuring:
Video production, live recording, and podcast facilities
A state-of-the-art Extended Reality (XR) studio for immersive digital technologies
Hands-on opportunities for young talent and creative professionals
Upgrades to the existing ground-floor music venue will create a stronger platform for local and touring artists, boosting Ipswich’s night-time economy. The venue will also host workshops, skills development, and volunteering opportunities, including XR design, filmmaking, post-production and editing, audio recording, and digital photography.
Construction work is set to begin in late Spring 2026, with doors due to open in early Spring 2027. To keep up to date with The Baths progress and news, visit: https://www.brightenthecorners.co.uk/the-baths-regeneration-project.
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