More creativity, more opportunity: Ipswich’s cultural ambitions for the next decade

What would it take for more people in Ipswich to enjoy, shape and benefit from the town’s cultural life? A new ten-year strategy sets out a shared direction, with communities, young people and creative talent at its heart.

Ipswich has plenty of creativity to draw on. Alongside its established theatres, arts organisations and historic places are independent artists, freelancers and community groups bringing people together across the town.

The Ipswich Culture & Heritage Strategy 2026-36 looks at how those strengths can work together more effectively, and how opportunities can reach people who currently face barriers to getting involved.

Its ambitions extend beyond the arts themselves. The plan explores how culture and heritage can support wellbeing, build skills and careers, strengthen neighbourhoods and help shape the town’s future development.

A shared direction for Ipswich

The strategy has been driven on behalf of the town by We Are Ipswich, an independent collective of leading local arts and heritage organisations.

Amy Vaughan of Fringe Culture Ltd developed the strategy, supported by Kath Cockshaw and local freelancers. Community views, contributions from artists and partner organisations, and research into participation and investment have all helped inform it.

The result is a framework that gives residents, cultural organisations, education providers, businesses and public bodies common goals to work towards over the coming decade.

It also acknowledges an important challenge: while Ipswich has a rich cultural offer, access to it and the benefits it brings are unevenly shared.

Five ambitions, with people at the centre

The strategy identifies five priorities for the next ten years:

1. Make culture more accessible across Ipswich’s neighbourhoods
Remove barriers and create opportunities that reflect what communities want and need, making creativity a more visible part of everyday life.

2. Give young people a real say
Involve young people in shaping the town’s cultural future, with clearer routes into creative skills, employment and leadership.

3. Build stronger relationships
Bring communities, organisations and decision-makers closer together, giving residents greater influence over cultural life in Ipswich.

4. Put culture and heritage into decisions about place
Ensure the town’s identity and creativity help shape regeneration, public spaces and future development.

5. Help creative people and organisations flourish
Strengthen the support, connections and opportunities available to artists, freelancers and cultural organisations, helping them build sustainable futures here.

Early work will focus on building relationships, understanding what prevents people from participating and developing practical approaches alongside the communities involved.

Turning ambition into action

Douglas Rintoul, Chair of We Are Ipswich and Chief Executive/Artistic Director of New Wolsey Theatre, said:

“Ipswich has extraordinary creativity, rich heritage and a groundswell of energy. This strategy gives us a shared direction for what we can achieve together. For us, success means more people taking part, young people seeing a creative future here, artists building careers and communities shaping their town.”

Delivering that vision will involve people and organisations across Ipswich. Rintoul emphasised that no single organisation can achieve it alone, with conversations across communities, business, education, health and the creative sector helping determine the next steps.

For strategy author Amy Vaughan, the process has highlighted both the town’s potential and the commitment of those contributing to its future.

She said:

“Local people, freelancers, supporters and organisations have contributed so much time and energy into this strategy and that has given it real authenticity and power. It genuinely feels like now is Ipswich’s moment to step into the limelight and show what this place is capable of.”

Where could you play a part?

The strategy invites residents, businesses, community groups and partners to consider how their own ideas and activities could contribute.

That might mean considering whose voices are missing, what makes participation difficult, or where a new partnership could open up opportunities. The shared ambition is for more people to have a stake in the town’s cultural future.

The strategy’s development was funded and supported by Arts Council England, Ipswich Borough Council, Ipswich Central, New Wolsey Theatre on behalf of We Are Ipswich, and Suffolk County Council.

Read the Ipswich Culture & Heritage Strategy 2026–36 here.

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Miranda Acres

Miranda has been a Freelance Marketing and Design Consultant for more years than she cares to remember, supporting local start-ups, SMEs and charities. A passionate founder of Ipswich.love. Huge supporter of Ipswich's bid for City of Culture 2029. Born, bred and choosing Ipswich.