Babylon Arts to pause Gallery Exhibitions and Cinema programmes from January 2025
After careful consideration, Babylon Arts has made the difficult decision to pause our gallery exhibition and cinema programmes from January 2025. This decision comes after significant challenges in securing core funding, which has made it increasingly difficult for us to maintain the necessary staffing levels and cover the operational costs required to run these vital elements of our work.
This pause will give us the time to assess the long-term viability of these programmes and explore new and innovative ways to continue delivering cultural and artistic experiences to the region.
While our gallery exhibitions and cinema will be on hold after December 2024, Babylon Arts will continue to run key projects such as MarketPlace, The Library Presents, and our partnership work with Wicken Fen, all of which remain unaffected by these changes. We will also honour our current commitments to deliver exhibitions and cinema screenings until the end of December 2024.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible staff, volunteers, artists, and local community members who have played a central role in the success of our gallery and cinema. Thanks to their dedication, we’ve proudly showcased the works of hundreds of regional artists, curated a diverse selection of films, and strengthened our connections with the wider community. From supporting schools and young people through our Babylon Young Associates programme, to hosting beloved events like Fen Speak and the Eel Festival, the impact of these contributions has been profound.
Babylon Arts is an essential part of the cultural fabric of this region. We enrich not only the cultural landscape but also the local economy, drawing thousands of visitors to Ely’s riverside, supporting local businesses, and creating job opportunities. We are fully committed to finding a way to bring our organisation back to financial stability. In the coming months, we will engage with key funders and stakeholders, and we remain hopeful that through these discussions, we can chart a sustainable path forward. We are open to explore solutions through partnership working.
For those who wish to support us in these challenging times, donations can be made through our website at https://uk.patronbase.com/_BabylonArts/Products/Donate
We are grateful for your continued support as we navigate this period of transition, and we remain committed to fostering arts and culture in our region.
Contact details: Linda.mccord@babylonarts.org.uk; dawn.bainbridge@babylonarts.org.uk
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