Ipswich New Wolsey Theatre boss Douglas Rintoul urges Suffolk County Council to reconsider position on scrapping arts and museum funding in latest budget

An Ipswich theatre boss has expressed fears for the future after a council proposal to axe investment in culture and the arts – and urged it to reconsider its course of action.

Douglas Rintoul, the chief executive of the New Wolsey Theatre, in Civic Drive, believes Suffolk County Council’s plans to cut core funding to arts and museum organisations may force it to make ‘tough decisions’ about what services it can offer.

Despite consistent efforts and support from Arts Council England and Ipswich Borough Council, he felt the plans came at a turbulent time, as businesses recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, plus additional strain from the cost-of-living crisis.

Suffolk County Council is proposing £500,000 in savings by stopping core funding to art and museum sector organisations from April 2025 as part of £64.7m budget cuts.

Yesterday, The Wolsey joined chorus with other organisations across Suffolk, including Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, the Eastern Angles Theatre Company, First Light Festival in Lowestoft, DanceEast, and Primadonna Festival in Stowmarket, to hit out at the council’s plans to stop funding.

Mr Rintoul asked the authority to reconsider its plans – which could see it lose as much as 80 per cent of the subsidy money that it puts towards its engagement programmes.

The current economic climate means its community work is more vital than ever, he highlighted.

Mr Rintoul said: "The reduction in investment of our engagement initiatives will not only be felt by us but will ultimately cost local government more in the long run.

“The cultural sector stands at the heart of Ipswich and Suffolk, shaping the region's identity.

“These proposed cuts could jeopardise the artistic and creative vibrancy of the area and threaten economic growth.

“Cultural and creative industries generate over £272m for the region and contribute immeasurably to the visitor economy, community wellbeing, sense of identity and enjoyment of life at its every stage.”

Suffolk County Council wants to save funds to balance its budget for the 2024/25 financial year, with a pledge to inject £74m in adult and children’s care.

The Wolsey has had council investment for the past 40 years, and Mr Rintoul said that, while he understood the challenges faced by authorities nationwide, he feared the effects cuts could have on its community work.

This includes working with about 150 young people from all backgrounds per week, including those with disabilities, and its support of 17 community groups throughout the year.

Mr Rintoul said it will perform in 40 schools during the spring, and could provide low-cost or free access to its services to about 5,000 people in need.

In addition, Jake Smith, the chief executive of Eastern Angles Theatre Company, also based in Ipswich, said he knew that authority budgets were under extreme pressure due to ‘drastic underfunding’ from the Government, and that council leaders had to make difficult decisions.

“However, it is important to reframe investment in arts and culture as exactly that: an investment,” he added.

“It delivers not only an economic return but also contributes to the social health and wellbeing of our community.”

The joint statement from the arts organisations said: “Whilst we will need some time to consider the full impact of these proposals, our immediate concern is how any decision might impact the people of Suffolk.

“The proposed cut to these organisations will provide an extremely modest difference to the Council’s overall finances, representing a saving of just 0.057 per cent of the Council’s 23/24 revenue budget.

“However, the ‘cost’ to our county will be so much more significant. Collectively, our organisations support 24,493 children and young people and 76,516 vulnerable people through our community engagement work.

“We also provide permanent employment for 154 staff, and project or contract employment for a further 499 staff.

“Suffolk-wide, the culture sector plays an important part in providing employment for local people, with almost 6,985 jobs* being supported by the sector.

“Our organisations, both collectively and individually, call on Suffolk County Council to consider the merit of a small cost saving, compared to the huge impact this will have on communities across Suffolk who benefit from our work.”