Sudbury Arts Centre secures future after collapse of main partner The Bridge Project

The future of Sudbury’s central cultural landmark has been secured following a period of uncertainty after its main delivery partner folded.

Sudbury Arts Centre – located within the former St Peter’s Church on Market Hill – confirmed that its existing team will remain in place, allowing the venue and its activities to continue.

For the past 18 months, The Bridge Project, a long-running Sudbury-based charity, had held the lead role in operating the centre.

But the organisation was liquidated last week due to financial insolvency, leaving the arts centre in limbo.

However, the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), which owns St Peter’s, announced it is now taking over the running of the venue, and has kept on the current staff.

Jane Hatton, the CCT’s local community officer for the south-east region, said: “We can confirm that the Sudbury Arts Centre team will continue in post, with CCT taking over the management.

“All events booked will go ahead, and we will be finalising some of the operational arrangements to ensure the excellent events and activities continue as previously.”

St Peter’s has served as a community and events venue in Sudbury for decades, since being made redundant as a place of worship in the 1970s.

In 2023, the site was formally rebranded as Sudbury Arts Centre after reopening following a multi-million pound project to refurbish the building and expand its offering.

At that time, The Bridge Project – a social enterprise for disadvantaged adults, established in the town in 1995 – took over the management of the venue.

Following the collapse of The Bridge Project, the charity, the CCT and the Sudbury Arts Centre team all vowed that they were working closely towards a ‘business as usual’ approach.

A statement from the arts centre explained that its primary goal was to stay open and minimise any disruption arising from this situation.

“As a team, with our amazing volunteers, we’ve worked tirelessly to bring St Peter’s to life,” the statement read.

“We’ve expanded the programme, working with industry professionals to bring acts from around the world for you to enjoy.

“We’ve supported many local community organisations with free or low cost use of the space.

“We’ve built great partnerships and have worked with arts practitioners, organisations, and town and district councils on events such as the Spark projection project, a large-scale orchestral project, and the inaugural Street Food Festival last year.

“Crucially, we work with sometimes vulnerable children and adults on projects that the public may not be aware of, including sound and music workshops, work experience and opportunities to take pride in delivering their very own events.

“Students from The Bridge Project have been helping to look after the churchyard, have enjoyed being in the space as they and their tutors have listened to stories, or have learned history and made art.

“Some are familiar faces helping out in the café or greeting some of the 60,000 people that have visited us. One way or another, we want to continue what we’ve started.”

It has also been confirmed that almost all equipment inside St Peter’s, which enables Sudbury Arts Centre to function, is owned by the CCT, apart from some minor non-essential items.

On Thursday, arts centre manager Alli Burke reassured visitors that any closures in the coming days would simply be to prepare the site for the future, and scheduled events will continue as planned.

“We’re really delighted that the team at Sudbury Arts Centre have been retained,” she said.

“We will be continuing to grow St Peter’s as an inclusive and welcoming space for arts, heritage and community.

“Thank you to the CCT for recognising the commitment of the team, and entrusting us to continue to cultivate and care for this beautiful venue. We’re very grateful for this opportunity.

“Thank you to our customers, partners, volunteers and suppliers – we will be in touch very soon.

“We have some work to do to ensure we have everything in place to function, so may be closed for a few days. Don’t be alarmed – we are here and our programme continues.”

Sudbury Arts Centre’s usual opening hours are 10.30am and 3.30pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays.