Multimillion-pound funding package agreed for Worthing Theatres and Museum

Released: Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Worthing Borough Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the town's thriving cultural scene by agreeing a new five-year, multimillion-pound funding package for Worthing Theatres and Museum.

The investment will enable the charity to continue delivering the outstanding programme of theatre, live music, comedy, dance, exhibitions, cinema, family entertainment, workshops and community events that enrich the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors every year.

Worthing Theatres and Museum plays a vital role in making the town one of the South East's leading cultural destinations. Its venues attract visitors from across the region, support local businesses, provide opportunities for local artists and performers, and bring communities together through shared cultural experiences.

In 2025/26 alone, more than 250,000 people visited its venues, enjoying an extensive programme of events across the Connaught Theatre, Pavilion Theatre, Assembly Hall and Worthing Museum & Art Gallery.

The new agreement demonstrates our continued confidence in the organisation and its important contribution to the town's economy, wellbeing and identity.

The funding agreement covers the period from 2027/28 to 2031/32, providing the long-term certainty Worthing Theatres and Museum needs to deliver its ambitious business plan while continuing its journey towards greater financial sustainability.

It builds on our long-standing partnership with the independent charity, which has long operated the venues on our behalf. Our wider operating agreement with the charity runs until October 2044.

Alongside our significant investment, the agreement supports Worthing Theatres and Museum's ambition to become increasingly financially resilient through commercial income, external funding, fundraising and developing new partnerships. This approach will help ensure the organisation can continue investing in high-quality cultural experiences for future generations while making the best use of public funding.

The agreement also supports Worthing Theatres and Museum's five-year business plan, which sets out an ambitious vision to expand opportunities for local creatives, attract new audiences and further strengthen the town's reputation for culture.

It commits us to building on recent investment across the venues, including the transformation of Worthing Museum & Art Gallery while it was being connected to the Worthing Heat Network. The Pavilion Theatre, which celebrated its centenary in June, is also being connected to the network, while upgraded windows across multiple venues are improving energy efficiency and supporting the sustainability ambitions shared by both organisations.

The new agreement also provides important stability around local government reorganisation, enabling Worthing Theatres and Museum to confidently plan for the future while ensuring residents and visitors continue to benefit from an exceptional year-round cultural programme that supports the local economy.

Councillor Dom Ford, Worthing'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.”

James Turnbull, Chair of Worthing Theatres and Museum, 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.”

The agreement will run from April 2027 to March 2032.

To find out more about the agreement, see: