Colchester + Ipswich Museums are celebrating a significant boost in funding, having been awarded £126,200 from the Museum Renewal Fund – a new Arts Council England initiative supporting museums owned and directly maintained by local authorities. The fund aims to safeguard the vital community engagement and impact enabled by public access to museums.
Over the next five months, this generous investment will support Colchester and Ipswich’s six museums to increase capacity, visibility and commerciality. In Colchester, Hollytrees Museum will benefit from enhanced marketing, increased visibility and consultation to help shape its future vision as a much-loved local institution.
In Ipswich, the funding will enable Christchurch Mansion to resume a five-day-per-week opening schedule, reversing the reduced hours introduced in April due to budgetary pressures. The Friends of Ipswich Museums have also pledged support to ensure the free museum can maintain its increased accessibility – especially timely as the Mansion prepares to host three landmark exhibitions in 2026 to mark the 250th anniversary of Suffolk-born artist John Constable.
This latest investment from Arts Council England complements ongoing major redevelopments at Ipswich Museum and Colchester’s Natural History Museum, both funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Since 2022, Colchester + Ipswich Museums have secured approximately £13 million in capital funding from major partners including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Colchester City Council, Ipswich Borough Council, the Wolfson Foundation, Clore Duffield, and the Garfield Weston Foundation.
At a time when town and city centres face increasing challenges, continued investment in museums is vital. The six museums operated by Colchester + Ipswich Museums Service attract around 200,000 visitors annually, contributing an estimated £6 million to the local economy.
Councillor Lee Scordis, Colchester City Council Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage, said: “This funding is a testament to the value our communities place in their museums. Hollytrees Museum is a cornerstone of Colchester’s cultural life, and this investment will help us reimagine its future while continuing to welcome thousands of visitors each year. Museums are not just places of learning – they are places of connection, inspiration and pride.”
Page last reviewed: 8 October 2025