A shared cultural future for Ipswich.

The Ipswich Culture & Heritage Strategy 2026–36 sets out a shared vision for how arts, culture and heritage can help our town thrive over ten years, enrich everyday life and create opportunities for everyone.

At its heart is a vision for Ipswich to be a confident, creative and outward-looking town, where culture and heritage strengthen opportunity, belonging and civic identity.

The strategy builds on the creativity and energy already here. It sets out priorities to support creativity, celebrate our stories and make it easier for everyone to take part, while strengthening our communities, wellbeing and local economy.

This strategy belongs to the whole town, and we all have a part to play. No single organisation can deliver it alone. Its ambitions depend on people across Ipswich making it their own: communities, businesses, artists, freelancers, volunteers, young people, cultural organisations and public bodies.

Bringing it to life means talking with people across the town, exploring its ambitions together and helping everyone understand what they could mean for them and how they can contribute. These conversations will shape how the strategy is put into practice and help turn shared ambitions into action.

Explore the strategy and consider where you could play a part. You can download the full document or individual sections using the links below.

With thanks

The strategy was driven on behalf of the town by We Are Ipswich, an independent collective of Ipswich’s leading arts and heritage organisations. It was developed by consultant Amy Vaughan, with support from local freelancers and organisations, and shaped through consultation with communities, artists and partners across Ipswich and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, ideas and experience, including Kath Cockshaw, Christopher Gilbert, Tom Hobden, Amanda Hodgkinson, Hannah Houghton, Georgy Jamieson, Ed Ngai, Cad Taylor, Amy Wragg and the team at the New Wolsey Theatre.

A special thank you to Sammi Wong for designing the strategy.

The work 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.