MESSUMS EAST
in Lowestoft. Opening in 2026
A PLACE SHAPED BY LOWESTOFT
Lowestoft has a strong sense of pride, shaped by its landscape, history, heritage and the industries and events that have defined it. Messums has been working within the community since 2021, and many of its team grew up and live here. This place matters to us.
Reviving High Street
Like many towns, Lowestoft's High Street has lost its role as a place to meet, connect and spend time together. We believe it can thrive again - with reasons to come into town and spaces that bring people together.
Bringing Buildings Back to Life
These buildings were once at the heart of a community and will be again run by and for a community as open, friendly spaces for making, learning, sharing and socialising.
WORKING TOGETHER
We are already working in close partnership with local organisations, including the Seagul Theatre, local colleges and creatives across the area. Collaboration sits at the heart of everything we do.
Local Roots, Wider Connections
Alongside local partnerships, we work with regional, national and international artists and institutions, including the V&A to ensure access, learning and excellence for all living or visiting here.
Past, Present and Future
Together, we celebrate Lowestoft's history and heritage through remarkable projects and works, while creating space for new stories, ideas and practices to be made, shown and shared.
A FUTURE DESCRIBED BY CREATIVITY
In Lowestoft, the programme will be shaped by the community we are creating and will include workshops, courses and making sessions; exhibitions and residencies; access with artists across visual arts disciplines; film screenings, talks, music, festivals, social events and shared moments of learning, creativity and enjoyment.
Ground Floor - Free to Access
Main reception including shop and community exhibition space
Main Gallery and GIS Loan Space with year-round programming
Screening Room
Artist in Residence Courtyard Studio
Sculpture and Making Atrium
Café
First and Second Floor
Artist in Residence Studio Spaces
Library and Archive
Meeting Rooms, Studios, Classrooms and Members' Room
4 Residential Accommodation Spaces
"I am delighted to support the proposal to make Lowestoft Post Office into a major cultural flagship, driving positive economic and social change in the town and the county. Suffolk has many cultural flagships, including Britten Pears Arts, DanceEast, Gainsborough's House, New Wolsey Theatre. We do not have a significant centre for the contemporary visual arts; it is an acknowledged gap that Lowestoft can now own and lead on. The key drivers in successful cultural development are partnerships between entrepreneurs, exceptionally talented local people and the public sector. This proposal is underpinned by those key drivers; Messums and Laurence Edwards working with East Suffolk County Council."
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Jayne Knight, Arts Development Manager, Suffolk County Council.
"After the amazing success of the December workshop, we were determined to bring more opportunities to Lowestoft from the exciting partnership with Messums. We are passionate about spreading participation in the arts in all its forms, and we know from many years of experience that participation in workshops like this one brings enormous benefits in wellbeing and happiness. The development of the former Post Office building into Messums East will bring amazing opportunities for Lowestoft residents to get involved, and we want to start showcasing these through our workshop programme."
Des Reynolds, Director, The Seagull CIC, Lowestoft.