Culture
Spectacular festivals, theatres, fine galleries and the inspirational
landscapes of our famous artists, authors and films - you will be
amazed by the region's Culture.
Art to View
The region is home to a vibrant and diverse visual arts scene. Visit one of our fine galleries, such as the 20th C. paintings at Kettle's Yard (Cambridge) or the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich, which spans 5,000 years of human creativity. Don't miss the new firstsite arts complex at Colchester - where innovative and contemporary work is housed in an equally inspiring building. For a closer look at sculpture, explore the parkland at the New Town of Harlow, or take a tour of The Henry Moore Foundation, the former home/studio of this famous sculptor at Perry Green.
Many of our galleries hold changing exhibitions of art, with a chance to purchase the works on show. You can also meet our artists, and maybe commission your own piece, with Open Studios around the region. The Leigh Art Trail (Leigh-on-Sea) and the National Pottery and Ceramics Festival (Hatfield House) are just two of our art events.
Inspired? - then why not take part in an art-related course for a day, a weekend or longer. Enjoy painting in the Dedham Vale, just as landscape artist John Constable did, or try your hand at printmaking.
Check out our full listing of galleries and art events
Inspirational Landscapes
Explore the places that inspired our artists and authors.
Flatford Mill (nr. Ipswich) was the scene of ‘The Hay Wain', by Britain's greatest landscape artist John Constable - or head to the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery which houses the Dutch-inspired works of the Norwich School (John Crome and John Sell Cotman). Scenes of horses and rural life were the great love of Sir Alfred Munnings - see them at his former home in Dedham. Noted for his portrait paintings, the birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough at Sudbury displays more of his work than any other museum in the world. See more masterpieces by Gainsborough and Constable at 16th C. Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich.
Magical children's authors, crime queens and literary greats. See the original manuscripts of A.A Milne's Winnie the Pooh in Cambridge, or visit Melford Hall (Long
Melford) - with its Beatrix Potter memorabilia. P.D. James has littered the area with her red herrings and dead bodies, as has Dorothy L. Sayers - whose Lord Peter Wimsey is on hand to solve the crime. Other famous names include Graham Greene, George Orwell, George Bernard Shaw, Rupert Brooke, Arthur Ransome and Anna Sewell. Take a trip on the meare at Thorpeness with its Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie) theme - but watch out for the crocodile!
Theatre
How about a special evening at one of the region's excellent theatres? - such as the rare late-Georgian gem of the Theatre Royal in Bury St. Edmunds.
Check out our full listing of theatres and entertainment venues
Explore the places that inspired our famous artists and authors. Flatford Mill (nr. Ipswich) was the scene of ‘The Hay Wain', by Britain's greatest landscape artist John Constable
Festival East
Enjoy our arts and cultural events - featuring performances by local, national and internationally known artists. Major festivals include the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Ip-art (Ipswich) and the Peterborough Festival - or why not join in the
multi-cultural extravaganza of the Luton Carnival.
Search our full listing of events
Film and Literature
The big screen comes alive for the annual Cambridge Film Festival, or why not enjoying readings from your favourite books - with our literature festivals at King's Lynn and Southwold. The county of Essex holds the region's biggest reading and writing event. Celebrate the works of Graham Greene, with his annual festival at Berkhamsted. For poetry, head to Aldeburgh, or the North Norfolk Coast for Poetry-next-the-Sea. Set in lovely college gardens, enjoy the performances of the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival.
Music
For a musical treat, try the jazz and jive of the Twinwood Festival (nr. Bedford), the family-friendly Latitude Festival (nr. Southwold), or the region's largest one-day music event in Ipswich. At Hitchin you can travel through the Rhythms of the World. Composer Benjamin Britten started the famous Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts, with many events held in the famous concert hall. Cambridge is noted for its popular Folk Festival, one of the best in Europe. The renowned V Festival (Chelmsford) features the best of today's music. In the summer, look out for our spectacular outdoor concerts, from classical and jazz, to pop and rock.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Visit the locations of your favourite films and television programmes in the East of England. From Chariots of Fire, Kingdom and James Bond, to Dad's Army, The Golden Age and Shakespeare in Love.
Download our free Lights, Camera, Action! information sheet - which includes a comprehensive listing of film and television locations in the East of England.
