£1.92M Boost Turns Historic Baths into Cutting-Edge Creative Hub

The Baths in Ipswich, once a swimming pool, has become a popular music venue over the years. Now, it is about to get even better thanks to a £1. 92 million grant from Ipswich Borough Council. This funding will be used to transform the unused first floor of The Baths into a creative digital lab. The new lab will include facilities for video production, live recording, and podcasting, giving local artists and creators a space to develop their talents and share their work. Brighten the Corners, known as BTC, has managed The Baths for several years and is excited about the changes. Joe Bailey, the chief executive of BTC, believes that the new lab will benefit Ipswich for decades, helping to inspire and connect future generations of creative people.

In addition to the digital lab, BTC plans to build a state-of-the-art extended reality (XR) studio. XR technology allows users to experience immersive digital environments, which can be used for entertainment, education, and creative projects. The construction for these new facilities is set to begin in late spring next year, with the goal of opening in spring 2027. The funding comes from the Towns Fund, a government initiative aimed at improving towns across the country. Some of the money will also be used to upgrade the existing music venue on the ground floor, making it even more attractive for performers and audiences.

BTC's ambition is to help connect and inspire the next generation of creative talent, and they plan to work closely with local communities and businesses to make this happen. Neil MacDonald, the Labour leader of the council, said that the refurbishment would breathe new life into The Baths and that the council is proud to support the project. He added that the new facilities will not only provide great entertainment but also help local people develop important digital skills for the future. The Baths has a rich history, having hosted famous acts like Led Zeppelin in the 1970s when boards were placed over the pool to create a stage. The pool closed in the 1980s, and the building was converted into a two-storey venue. BTC has been running The Baths full time and also manages other venues in Ipswich, such as The Smokehouse. The Brighten the Corners festival, which has been successful since 2019, will not take place in 2026 as the team focuses on other projects. The new creative digital lab is expected to make The Baths an even more important part of Ipswich's cultural scene.