What we do
We are a new, energetic and all-encompassing organisation steeped in history and heritage and building on it to respond nimbly to the changing requirements of those we already engage with and meeting the needs of new audiences.
We share the resources that Britten and Pears left us, the music, Festival, Concert Hall, their home, values and ethos. This gives us a broad remit of work including performance, professional training and development, heritage, creative health research and extensive community engagement work.
Performance
Britten Pears Arts runs a regular programme of concerts throughout the year with highlights include the Aldeburgh Festival in June, daily concerts in August, a Festival of New, and a seasonal Christmas programme.
Professional Training and Development
We have a range of training programmes for artists at all stages of their career. We are a Centre for Advanced Training for musicians aged 8 to 18 years and we offer an advanced post music college development programme for young professional musicians. We also offer residency and retreat opportunities throughout the year.
Heritage and Archive
We have Britten and Pears’ physical collections including the archive, library, art collection, everyday objects, furniture and ephemera of life which is now part of the museum collection. The house, galleries, museum, gardens and archive are open to the public to visit from March to October. We offer archive and museum training opportunities.
Creative Health
As a leading centre for music in creative health, social prescribing and well-being we run specific projects including MOTs for creative practitioners facing challenging circumstances, music at the end of life research, and singing and health workshops.
Community Engagement
Our extensive range of community activities includes work in Suffolk care homes, schools and prisons. We offer a young people's choir in Lowestoft and Ipswich, music sessions for 0-5 years olds and their carers, a national singing programme, an annual celebration of Suffolk schools' and community music groups' music making, participatory workshops for people living with Parkinson's and their carers, and more.
Shops, cafés, accommodation and private hires
An extensive retail offer includes furniture, homewares, food, garden plants and accessories, craft, gifts, cards and books. A range of refreshments are available in our café and bar areas and include coffee, snacks, meals and pizza. There are a number of holiday properties available for let and stunning spaces available for hire for weddings and parties including the Concert Hall.
All profits from these activities support the charitable work of Britten Pears Arts.