East of England gets £6m in arts and culture cash

21 October 2025

Ben Parker

News image — Murals were painted on buildings as part of the Our Towns project in Basildon

Creative Basildon A colourful flowery mural is in the process of being painted on the side of a brick building. A stair lift is raising people up who are working on the mural. There is a street below the mural with people walking past. — Murals were painted on buildings as part of the Our Towns project in Basildon

Arts and culture projects in the East of England are set to receive at least £6m in funding.

The money, from Arts Council England, is "to deliver more grassroots-led cultural experiences in areas where involvement in arts and culture is below the national average".

Eight organisations in the region will receive at least £750,000 each between 2026-29.

Arts Minister Ian Murray said: "I am thrilled that this investment directly empowers local organisations, so they can tell the world their story and make people proud of where they live."

Marketplace Arts A man with grey hair, wearing a blue jacket looking at a number of yellow framed art pieces that are attached to a metal fence. — Open-air galleries were created as part of the Mildenhall Art Trail last year

The organisations that will receive the funding are:

Creative Basildon - Basildon, Essex
Marketplace Arts - West Suffolk and Fenland, Cambridgeshire
Freshly Greated - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
IP-Switched - Ipswich, Suffolk
Revoluton - Luton, Bedfordshire
Peterborough Presents - Peterborough
Creative Tendring - Tendring, Essex
Start Thurrock - Thurrock, Essex

Arts Council England said the purpose of the funding was to give community groups the opportunity to provide services that were needed where they were based.

The organisation invests public money from the government and The National Lottery.

Darren Henley, chief executive at Arts Council England, said: "This major new investment unlocks the creative power of neighbourhoods across England, giving people the chance to commission new work, to participate in creative acts and to experience the artistic excellence of professional creators, curators and performers."

'Thrilled'

Rob Drummer, the creative director and chief executive of MarketPlace Arts, also said "we are thrilled" to have been funded for a further "three years" to continue supporting diverse communities in Fenland and west Suffolk.

Gary Scott, Tendring District Council's cabinet member for arts, culture and heritage, said the money was a "significant boost" for the district.

Peterborough Presents, which works with neighbourhoods across the city to develop creative activities and events, is set to receive £800,000.

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