Gainsborough’s House is at a critical point in its history as we draw closer to realising our ambition to transform the museum and gallery into a vibrant, innovative national centre for Thomas Gainsborough – that puts Sudbury on the international cultural map.
Our vision is to construct a dynamic, new arts venue here in the heart of East Anglia that will inspire audiences from across the UK and beyond and secure the future of the Grade I-listed Georgian house and its internationally significant collections.
In 2016, we were delighted to learn that the Heritage Lottery Fund has earmarked £4.73 million to turn our vision into a reality; this included a development grant of £280,700.
In another significant step forward, Babergh District Council acquired the old labour exchange building on our behalf, adjacent to Gainsborough’s House – securing the site for the new gallery extension.
In order to bring about this once in a lifetime opportunity, we now need to raise a further £2.77 million of match funding, with an ambition to raise a further £1m endowment to provide long term financial security.
I commend all those who have been involved in the bid at Gainsborough’s House. Many people will enjoy visiting Gainsborough’s House in the future as a result of the work that will be able to be done.
Prime Minister Theresa May to Parliament upon Heritage Lottery Fund earmarking £4.73m, October 2016.
Gainsborough’s House Society , Charity No. 1170048 and Company Limited by Guarantee No. 10413978
