Image source, Richard Haugh/BBC
The new venue will host acts as part of Brighten the Corners Festival
- Author, by Miriam Earp
- Role, BBC News, Suffolk
- St Stephen’s Church, on Arras Square in Ipswich, has been transformed into a new music venue and community space
- The deconsecrated medieval church can host up to 225 people following the renovations
- It is one of five venues that will host the music festival Brighten the Corners on Friday and Saturday
A deconsecrated medieval church in the centre of Ipswich has been transformed into a new music venue.
Work on St Stephen’s Church, owned by Ipswich Borough Council, started in December.
The Grade II-listed building on Arras Square will host live music events as well as being a community space during the day.
It is one of five venues around the town that will host music festival Brighten the Corners on Friday and Saturday.
Image source, Luke Deal/BBC
St Stephen’s Church, on Arras Square, is a Grade II-listed building
The renovation project has included the creation of a stage, a cafe and bar area and new flooring.
New toilets have also been installed, as well as sound equipment and soundproofing systems.
More emergency exits allows the venue to host up to 225 people.
Joe Bailey, director of Sounds East CIC, the non-profit organisation which has a lease on the venue, hoped the repurposed church would have a “creative community feel”.
“It lends itself, as a building, to congregation, communion, music and enjoyment, and that will continue for many years to come,” he added.
Mr Bailey said inspiration came from similar locations like Norwich Arts Centre and Colchester Arts Centre.
St Stephen’s Church will host part of Sounds East CIC’s multi-venue music festival Brighten the Corners, formerly known as Sound City Ipswich.
The other four locations are the Smokehouse, the Baths, the Corn Exchange and a free outdoor stage on the Cornhill.
Image source, Luke Deal/BBC
Joe Bailey, director of Sounds East CIC, hoped the venue would have a “creative community feel”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.bbc.com ’