Sudbury Arts Centre officially reopens as new era for cultural landmark begins

Sudbury’s town centre was a scene of celebration at the weekend, as the much-anticipated reopening of a key cultural landmark finally arrived.

Sudbury Arts Centre – formerly St Peter’s – on Market Hill staged its official soft launch on Saturday morning, preceding a day of activities to showcase the completed multi-million-pound renovations.

The venue has been closed for the past two years to enable a programme of essential repairs and improvements, including a new mezzanine gallery, kitchen and toilet facilities.

Sudbury mayor Jan Osborne, who carried out the ribbon cutting with Friends of St Peter’s president Roger Green, paid tribute to everyone who had made the project a reality.

“The renovation of St Peter’s is a great opportunity for Sudbury and the surrounding areas,” she told the Free Press.

“It’s such a wonderful community venue. Well done to all who made this possible.”

To mark the opening, Sudbury Arts Centre hosted live music, drawing and clay-making workshops, colouring and craft activities, a community silk mouse display and birds of prey in the graveyard.

In addition, the Belchamp Morris dancing troupe also caught the eyes of visitors with their performances.

Derek Stokes, of Belchamp Morris, said: “It was a really great day enjoyed by all.

“The Belchamp Morris were out in force at the opening of the new Sudbury Arts Centre, where we performed in the newly-renovated building.

“We then presented a cheque for £250 to the Stour Valley Men’s Shed based at Melford and, afterwards, performed for the residents at Elizabeth Court Retirement Home.”

To learn more about Sudbury Arts Centre and its upcoming events, go online to sudburyartscentre.com.