Suffolk county council's recent announcement of a proposed 100% cut to its culture budget has sparked concern and backlash from various arts organizations urging the council to reconsider. As part of its broader plan to achieve £64.7 million in savings over two years, the council unveiled its decision to cease core funding of £500,000 to art and museum sector organizations starting April 2025.

The move has triggered a collective response from local entities affected by the decision, including DanceEast, Eastern Angles theatre company, First Light festival, the New Wolsey theatre, Primadonna festival, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, and Suffolk Artlink. In a joint statement released on Thursday, these organizations highlighted that the cut, equivalent to just 0.057% of the council's 23-24 revenue budget, would have a disproportionate impact on communities across the county.

Expressing their concerns, the organizations emphasized the significance of their collective contributions, supporting 24,493 children and young people and 76,516 vulnerable individuals through community engagement initiatives. They also pointed out the employment impact, with 154 permanent staff and 499 project or contract employees. The culture sector, they argued, plays a crucial role in providing local employment, supporting nearly 6,985 jobs.

Douglas Rintoul, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the New Wolsey, voiced the challenges faced by cultural organizations recovering from the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. He emphasized that the proposed cuts could jeopardize the artistic and creative vibrancy of the area, potentially threatening economic growth. Despite ongoing support from Arts Council England and Ipswich borough council, these cuts could force theaters to make difficult decisions regarding their services to the local community.

Both Ipswich's New Wolsey and the Eastern Angles theatre company, institutions that have received council funding for four decades, face uncertainty. Jake Smith, Artistic Director and CEO of Eastern Angles, emphasized the need to view investment in arts and culture as essential for economic return and community well-being.

In response, Suffolk county council plans to allocate £528,000 of Covid recovery funds to arts organizations for the year 2024-25 to aid in the transition. Richard Rout, SCC's deputy leader, acknowledged the financial pressures and emphasized the council's focus on prioritizing adult and children's care. The proposed financial plans, including a 4.99% increase in council tax, will be presented to the scrutiny committee on January 11.

Green councillor Robert Lindsay and Green party prospective parliamentary candidate Emma Buckmaster expressed deep concern about the potential lasting damage to the arts in Suffolk due to these proposed cuts, highlighting the vital role smaller theaters play in local communities. The broader implications of the council's financial decisions will be closely scrutinized as stakeholders advocate for the preservation of cultural vibrancy in Suffolk.