Saxmundham

Sax Arts Fest 2024 helps bring Neighbourhood Plan ‘Vision’ to Life

The Sax Arts Festival was held across the town on Saturday 8th June, with lots of diverse events, entertainments, cultural activities, exhibitions, Word space for authors and actors.. The cultural programme was mainly put together by The Art Station, with major logistical and other support from Saxmundham Town Council.  Thanks to all who worked positively to make the event a success.

It helps bring to life key parts of our agreed Vision for Saxmundham’s future, as set out in the Neighbourhood Plan (NP):

“An attractive and distinctive town
• which is friendly and inclusive…
• which has a strong, wide-ranging cultural identity with well-equipped public venues and programmes of events and activities
• with a well maintained and valued historic town centre, enjoyed by visitors and residents alike”

And lots in the High Street:

The NP also identifies the potential of Fromus Square, between Waitrose and the High Street, as “a potentially attractive, area for retail or hospitality together with a safe and useable community space with a pedestrian priority…[It] could accommodate a range of events including market stalls and seasonal events but could also be suitable for outdoor seating and dining for uses such as cafes, bars restaurants or galleries”.

So it was good to see the Square used yesterday  for both market stalls and musical entertainment, as well as now having its own cafe for refreshments. Here’s an extract from the Rabble Chorus (on fine form as ever):

The Market Hall also came into its own on Saturday, as a key venue for leisure, culture and entertainment.  In the day time, there were market stalls, plus a photographic exhibition by 40 local residents, including some fascinating photos comparing locations of the town “then” (e.g. around 1900) with “now”.

And then in the evening, the superb jazzy band Perhaps Contraption performed a magical set before a large and enthusiastic audience audience.  It helped show what a strong role the Market Hall could play in the cultural life of the town!