Ipswich festival and University of Suffolk collaborate

Brighten the Corners Festival and the University of Suffolk have agreed a three-year partnership which will see the university named as principal festival partner.

The festival and the university have established a collaboration which looks to build on the cultural offer Ipswich can provide to students and the wider community.

The announcement comes following Independent Venue Week, which celebrates independent music venues across the country.

Left to Right: Tim Greenacre, Joe Bailey and Lewis Woolston (Image: Brighten The Corners)

This includes the venues used in the Brighten the Corners Festival – such as The Smokehouse, The Baths, and St Stephen's Church.

Tim Greenacre, chief executive at the University of Suffolk, was delighted with the agreement.

He said: "Following the fantastic success of Brighten the Corners 2023, the university is delighted to be working with Joe and the team on an expanded, longer-term partnership together.

"We hope to expand our involvement in the festival itself, as well as establishing a year-round collaboration which will not only support the town's night time economy but will also help to promote Ipswich as a fantastic destination to study, live and work."

Through the partnership, the university aims to provide students with unique opportunities to engage with the thriving music and arts scene in Suffolk and the wider East Anglia region.

Brighten The Corners Festival is a two-day music festival across five locations (Image: Jon Hayes)

Brighten the Corners' chief executive, Joe Bailey, added: "Partnering with the university of Suffolk opens up new avenues for us to expand our reach and bring the joy of music to a broader audience.

"We believe that by working together, we can create memorable experiences and contribute to the cultural enrichment of Ipswich."

The Brighten the Corners Festival is set to take place in June 2024, with initial acts already announced and tickets now on sale.