University of East Anglia secures £1,276,711 from Government to safeguard access to ambitious world class exhibitions in Sainsbury Centre
By: Communications
The Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia (UEA) will benefit from a grant of £1,276,711 from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), awarded by Arts Council England, for urgent replacement of the system that helps to maintain vital environmental conditions in its public gallery spaces and a replacement goods lift to safely move artworks.
The works to be carried out in 2025-2026 will safeguard the continuation of an exciting programme of exhibitions, enabling important works to be loaned from across the globe. The system also maintains the environmental control of artwork collection stores and the learning studio – a vital and busy hub for the Centre’s growing learning programme for schools and communities.
The award will also facilitate the reinstatement of a goods lift, ensuring safe transportation of art works and protection of essential access to a visitor lift.
The funding towards a project totalling more than £1.5m arrives as UEA marks 47 years since the Sainsbury Centre’s opening in 1978. Initiated in 1973 through the gift from Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury of their personal art collection to the University, the Sainsbury Centre’s radical approach has always aimed to transcend traditional boundaries between art, architecture, archaeology and anthropology. Housed in Sir Norman Foster’s revolutionary building, it was born of a new technological spirit, using a lightweight and extendable steel structure wrapped in a skin of glass and steel panels.
Today, the Sainsbury Centre is revitalising its radical beginnings and reimagining what it is to be a museum in the 21st century. With its international collections, extensive sculpture park, pay-if-and-what-you-can ticketing, experiential pathways into art, and vibrant exhibition programme exploring the fundamental questions people have in their lives today, the Centre is encouraging people to form a personal relationship with art.
The generous funds from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport is part of a scheme allowing galleries, museums, libraries, and cultural venues across the country to bid towards more than £20 million of national funding, aiming to improve people’s access to the arts and safeguard cultural assets for future generations.
Executive Director at the Sainsbury Centre, Prof Jago Cooper, said: "The Arts Council’s MEND fund will provide essential support for one of the most iconic museum buildings in the world, itself a work of art. This investment ensures that all artwork in our care is given its best life – whether in the permanent collection or joining us as part of our ambitious season of global exhibitions asking humanity’s Big Questions. It also means that the Sainsbury Centre can continue the important work of making art accessible to all for years to come."
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Arts and Humanities, Prof Catherine Richardson, said: "This wonderful news is a real boost to our work to keep developing the radical approach to arts and culture that has been so central to UEA from its foundation. The Sainsbury Centre and its collections are vital for our teaching, research and civic engagement – a unique resource that helps UEA students and communities to think about how different cultures address the big questions they face."
Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley said: "Today’s a good news day for arts organisations, museums and libraries. We know how much cultural places and spaces are valued in towns and cities across the land. For years to come, this new investment will help more people in more places to flourish by finding joy and connection with high quality culture close to home."
The Sainsbury Centre’s funding falls under the Museums Estate and Development Fund, which helps fund museum and local authority infrastructure projects and urgent maintenance works beyond their day-to-day budgets.
Director of Development at UEA, David Ellis, said: "We are delighted that our bid successfully delivered a very significant offer of national funds for essential works at the Sainsbury Centre, to match the University’s own investment and to help attract other philanthropy necessary as part of the overall project. It’s wonderful news for this ‘jewel in the crown’ of Norfolk culture, and also for our many annual visitors to the UEA campus."
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
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