Multimillion-pound deal to support Worthing arts venues

The funding, agreed by Worthing Borough Council, will ensure the continued operation of Worthing Theatres and Museum, which offers arts and entertainment at venues including the Connaught Theatre, Pavilion Theatre, Assembly Hall, and Worthing Museum and Art Gallery.

More than 250,000 people attended events and exhibitions at the venues in 2025/26. 

Cllr Dom Ford, Worthing Borough Council’s cabinet member for communities, culture, and leisure, said: "Worthing Theatres and Museum are at the heart of our cultural community.

"They enrich people’s lives, support our local economy, attract visitors and help make our town a fantastic place to live and work.

"By agreeing this new five-year partnership, we are providing the stability Worthing Theatres and Museum needs to plan for the future, while recognising the financial challenges facing local government.

"We are confident this agreement strikes the right balance between protecting our cultural offer and supporting Worthing Theatres and Museum’s continued journey towards greater financial independence."

The funding will last from April 2027 to March 2032.

Worthing Theatres and Museum operates as an independent charity and manages the venues on behalf of the council.

The operational agreement with the council is in place until October 2044.

The new funding package will also support delivery of the charity’s five-year business plan, which includes expanding opportunities for local artists, engaging new audiences, and further strengthening the town’s reputation for culture.

James Turnbull, chair of Worthing Theatres and Museum, welcomed the agreement.

He said: "We welcome Worthing Borough Council’s commitment to a new five-year partnership with Worthing Theatres and Museum.

"This significant agreement gives us the long-term confidence to plan ambitiously, strengthen our financial resilience and ensure Worthing continues to benefit from high-quality theatres, a thriving museum and an ambitious cultural programme.

"Worthing Theatres and Museum is an important part of the town’s cultural, social and economic infrastructure.

"We bring people together, support jobs and local businesses, attract visitors to the town and provide opportunities for people of all ages to experience and participate in arts, culture and heritage.

"We recognise the responsibility that comes with this public investment.

"Over the next five years, we will work with the council to increase our impact, grow the income we generate and ensure these much-loved civic assets deliver lasting value for the whole of Worthing and Sussex."