Worthing Council agrees new five year funding package for theatres and museum

Worthing Borough Council has agreed a new five-year multimillion-pound funding package for Worthing Theatres and Museum, providing long-term financial certainty for the charity from April 2027 to March 2032.

The agreement is intended to support the continued delivery of theatre, live music, exhibitions, cinema, community events and educational activities while helping the organisation progress towards greater financial sustainability.

The funding covers the period from 2027/28 to 2031/32 and builds on the council’s long-standing partnership with the independent charity, whose wider operating agreement runs until October 2044.

The council said the package supports the organisation’s business plan, which aims to expand opportunities for local creatives, attract new audiences and strengthen Worthing’s reputation as a cultural destination. It also follows investment in venue improvements, including the transformation of Worthing Museum & Art Gallery and energy efficiency works at the Pavilion Theatre and other sites.

Councillor Dom Ford said the agreement would provide stability while balancing financial pressures on local government. Worthing Theatres and Museum Chair James Turnbull said the funding would allow the charity to plan with confidence, strengthen its financial resilience and continue supporting the town’s cultural, social and economic life. The agreement also provides continuity as local government reorganisation progresses, with the council stating it will help ensure residents and visitors continue to benefit from a year-round cultural programme.