Art and Culture is at the very heart of what makes Ipswich the place it is today - a town with a rich heritage dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, but with a modern vibrancy enriched by its diverse and multi-cultural community.
Ipswich hosts a rich variety of arts events and activities and there is much to celebrate all year round, including:
Ip-art Festival takes over Ipswich for two weeks every summer, from the end of June into early July, turning the town into a focus for a celebration of music, dance, drama, comedy, art, literature film and sculpture. Ip-art began in 2002 and attracts increasingly large audiences drawn not only from Ipswich and Suffolk in general, but also from London and beyond.
Perhaps the most popular event of Ip-art, the well-established Ipswich Music Day, is the largest one-day music event in the East of England. Every year, the glorious surroundings of Christchurch Park play host to many different stages showcasing music from jazz, soul and blues to classical and rock, welcoming thousands of visitors to enjoy this free music extravaganza.
Check out the dedicated Ip-art website: www.ip-art.com (opens in a new window).
The PULSE Fringe Festival is now in its eighth year and is a highly respected showcase for emerging contemporary performing arts talent spanning all arts forms. From the end of May to mid-June PULSE offers a fantastic mini-season of events, live gigs and performances. With a growing number of shows spanning theatre, dance, music, live and visual arts in six venues across Ipswich, the Fringe is a full-on, immersive arts experience that will leave you breathless! Visit: www.pulsefringe.com (opens in a new window) for details.
Ipswich Community Carnival started in 2003 as a project by local community artists to create a central community celebration for everyone to participate in. For the first three years it consisted of a carnival foot parade through the town centre, but then in 2006 the event moved to Christchurch Park. In the park, as well as a carnival parade the day showcases local music and dance groups in the Big Top, community stalls and locally produced food. A full programme of events and workshops lead up to, and prepare for, the Carnival procession which this year will take place on Sunday 24th August 2008. For more information visit: www.ipswichcommunitycarnival.org (opens in a new window).
Ipswich Arts and Entertainments also promote the Ipswich Civic Concerts, charity events such as the Sport Relief Mile and Race for Life, and a variety of arts, music, comedy and theatre events held at the Regent, Corn Exchange, Town Hall and other venues across the town.
Ipswich is home to many voluntary arts groups as well as a diversity of professional artists including writers, visual artists, composers, musicians, dancers, choreographers, circus artists, actors, film makers, media artists, designers and makers.
The town is also the base for a range of professional arts organisations with national and international reputations including;
The following websites help you access further information about the great range of arts activities happening across Ipswich:
www.artsipswich.info (opens in a new window)
A comprehensive directory of arts organisation and groups, ordered by art form.
www.visualarts-ipswich.org.uk
This site is dedicated to visual arts in and around Ipswich and includes 'Making the Connection', a database featuring over 100 different artists. The site also contains information about what's on when at the Town Hall Galleries, Ipswich premier space for contemporary arts and crafts.
Ipswich Museum and Christchurch Mansion
Ipswich is the proud home to Ipswich Museum, which also hosts displays and activities at Gallery 3 in the Town Hall Galleries, and the beautiful Christchurch Mansion.
The Museum has a wealth of treasures for visitors to discover and hosts a regular programme of events for all the family to enjoy.
Christchurch Mansion is home to the biggest collection of Gainsborough and Constable paintings outside London, as well as collections of other artists inspired by the beautiful landscapes of East Anglia. In addition, the Mansion also hosts an interactive events programme for all ages, helping visitors to discover Ipswich's historic past.
More information about Ipswich Museum, Christchurch Mansion and the Museum at The Town Hall Galleries is available here.
The Town Hall Galleries
A dedicated visual arts venue in the heart of Ipswich.
The Town Hall Galleries is an Ipswich Borough Council historic venue in the centre of town where visitors can experience and participate in a range of contemporary exhibitions and events.
The Galleries present a changing and varied programme of visual arts, showcasing artists from our locality and bringing the best of contemporary art from the region and beyond alongside, community and heritage projects.
The crafts are represented by the Suffolk Craft Society, with the finest sales outlet for contemporary designer crafts in East Anglia. There are complementary activities, an arts resources area and refreshments available.
For details visit www.townhallgalleries.org.uk (opens in a new window).
For further information on Art and Culture in Ipswich please contact: