This funding forms part of the council’s wider commitment to invest in cultural engagement across Suffolk. In total, £500,000 has been allocated to support arts organisations and museums through the Culture Project Fund, an initiative designed to support creativity, strengthen community connections and foster local pride. Jubilant! is a great example of how this kind of investment can make a positive impact.
Led by the Stowmarket Culture Group, Jubilant! has brought together over 200 students from 10 local schools to work with Creative Practitioners to produce new, original works of art inspired by this year’s theme: "Roots". Whether through music, dance, sculpture, writing, horticulture or digital media, each cohort has developed their own interpretation of the theme, culminating in a week-long Youth Arts Festival across the town from 13 to 20 June.
The celebrations begin with a Festival Launch Day, where more than 200 people including students, families, school staff, and local residents will gather in Stowmarket Marketplace to mark the opening of the festival. This vibrant community event will showcase the students' creative achievements and provide an opportunity for attendees to tour the participating cultural venues around the town.
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality, said:
“The Culture Project Fund aims to support creativity within communities, and Jubilant! is a good example of this. It brings people together and gives young people a chance to be involved in the cultural life of Stowmarket.
“We’re pleased to see the town’s venues working together to encourage young artists and provide opportunities for them to develop. This kind of project is exactly what the Culture Project Fund is designed to help.”
Now in its fourth year, Jubilant! continues to grow in ambition and impact. Members of the public are warmly invited to visit the festival and explore the student-created work on display throughout the week. Artworks and performances will be exhibited across several of Stowmarket’s key cultural venues:
Exhibiting Venues for Jubilant! 2025:
- Food Museum
- Fox Yard Gallery, Fox Yard
- Modece Architects, Fox Yard
- John Peel Centre
- Stowmarket Library
- The Regal
- Red Gables
For full details on venue opening times and events throughout the festival week, please visit: https://foodmuseum.org.uk/jubilant/
