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| Snape Maltings, Britten Pears (Photo: Britten Pears Arts) |
Arts organisation spends lots of money – that ought to be a common enough headline but in today’s climate large-scale spending in the arts is becoming rarer. Which is why it is nice to be able to report that Britten Pears Arts has embarked on the first phase of a £13.8 million Capital Programme to upgrade facilities at Snape Maltings.
Under architects De Matos Ryan, the Britten Pears Building which was originally converted in 1979 will be modernised, with revamped studio and performance spaces, a new lift and a more welcoming environment. Five larger music studios will be created, and all the technical facilities will be modernised. A new upper floor learning facility will be created and the building will be thermally and acoustically insulated, part of Britten Pears Arts’ ongoing drive for more sustainable buildings.
This transformation will enable the expansion of the Britten Pears Arts Community and Creative Health programmes:
- Residencies which are currently oversubscribed, and the works will allow the organisation to work with more artists.
- Increased opportunities for Artist Development
- Expansion of Britten Pears Arts’ work with adults living with long-term health conditions including
- SkyLarks – Britten Pears Arts’ singing group for people living with Parkinson’s and their companions
- Participate – relaxed and fun music workshops for adults in Suffolk
- Increased activity for Families & Young people including
- Group A – Britten Pears Arts’ vocal initiative for young people in Suffolk
- Aldeburgh Young Musicians – creative and collaborative training for promising young musicians aged 10 – 18
- Mini Music Makers – fun sessions of music and play for 0 – 5 year olds
- Music Makers for 5 – 7 year olds and 8 – 11 year olds
In addition to the upgrades to the Britten Pears Building the Capital Programme includes:
- Work with the Alde and Ore Estuary Trust and East Suffolk Water Management Board to design a scheme to raise the Snape Maltings flood defences to ensure that the Snape Maltings site will be protected
- A series of upgrades to Snape Maltings Concert Hall to improve access, audience comfort, and programming flexibility and to reduce carbon emissions. There will be auditorium seating improvements, upgraded lighting, flexible acoustic baffles, an extra passenger lift, refurbished toilets and better kitchen facilities. Work is due to start in January 2027
- Significantly lowering carbon emissions by installing roof insulation, use of photovoltaic panels, and by connecting the music buildings to a renewable heating system
- Snape Rooms: As well as improvements to existing artist accommodation at Snape Maltings and in Aldeburgh, ten new bedrooms will be created at Snape Maltings for visiting musicians, arts practitioners and visitors. Work is due to start in early 2027
- There will be a new visitor exhibition at The Red House and a Discovery Centre at Snape Maltings, to tell the fascinating stories about the heritage sites
Full details from the Britten Pears Arts website.
