Among the many projects supported in the fund’s first year is Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, where new initiatives are helping young people find confidence, community, and creative opportunity through art.
The £500,000 Culture Project Fund, launched by Suffolk County Council in 2024, aims to strengthen the county’s cultural life by supporting projects that increase access to creativity for people of all ages and backgrounds. Gainsborough’s House has used this support to deliver two major programmes: Pulling Prints and the National Saturday Club.
Pulling Prints, launched this September, is a free printmaking programme for young adults aged 18–25 who are not currently in formal arts education. Participants are gaining hands-on experience in the Gainsborough’s House Print Workshop, guided by practising artists and supported by cultural partners including the Mill Tye Gallery. Over six months, the group is learning new printmaking techniques, developing personal and professional skills, and preparing for a final public exhibition to showcase their work.
Alongside this, the National Saturday Club continues to provide free weekly art workshops for 13–16-year-olds from Sudbury and surrounding areas. Young people explore creative processes, experiment with materials, and gain confidence through mentorship from professional artists. The club also offers opportunities beyond Suffolk, including national exhibitions and masterclasses with leading creative professionals.
Both programmes demonstrate how the Culture Project Fund is empowering communities through creativity, particularly those who might not otherwise have access to cultural opportunities.
Councillor Nadia Cenci, Cabinet Member for Communities at Suffolk County Council, said:
“It’s fantastic to see the real difference that our Culture Project Fund is making. Pulling Prints is giving young people the confidence, skills and support they need to explore their creativity and take the next step in their artistic journeys. This is exactly what the fund was designed to do, to ensure that everyone in Suffolk, no matter their background, can take part in and benefit from the arts.”
Calvin Winner, Executive Director at Gainsborough’s House, said:
“We are extremely grateful to Suffolk County Council for supporting our programmes and working in partnership to open doors for young people who may not otherwise have access to creative opportunities. Gainsborough’s House is an artist’s home, a place where creativity lives and grows. Through partnerships and shared vision, we can help young people to become the artists and cultural makers of tomorrow, right here in Suffolk.”
The success of these projects reflects the Culture Project Fund’s wider mission to ensure that arts and culture are accessible to all, fostering wellbeing, confidence, and inclusion through creative engagement.
Applications for the 2026 Culture Project Fund are now open, with grants available for projects large and small. Community groups, museums, arts organisations, and freelancers are all encouraged to apply.
Find out more and apply at: www.suffolk.gov.uk/cultureprojectfund
