King's Lynn Arts Centre

Located inside the historic Grade I Listed, St. George’s Guildhall, built in 1406. The building was used as a theatre in 1585 when The Queen’s Players performed, and H.M. Players in 1635 when it is reputed William Shakespeare played here. It was a Georgian Theatre in 1766 and this closed in 1814. The building went into other uses and eventually became unused and derelict.

The Arts Centre opened on 24th July 1951 with 367 seats. It was opened by the late H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. It was later known as the Fermoy Centre after the founders of the arts centre Lord & Lady Fermoy.

Responsibility for the programming and operation were taken over by the Borough Council in 1977 and it was re-named King’s Lynn Arts Centre. Seating was provided for 349. In 2011 the Centre was taken over by the King’s Lynn Arts Centre Trust.

Sadly, the Trust closed down in December 2015 and the Guildhall became a hall for hire, under used, neglected and in need of modernisation and refurbishment. Neither the Borough Council (tenant) nor the National Trust (owner) was able to come up with a viable plan to secure its future.

In July 2018 it was announced that a charity had come forward with plans to turn the building into a gallery complex. This was favourably received by the council, and tentative discussions were held with the National Trust and the Arts Council. It was mentioned that the town’s Corn Exchange could be used to accommodate events, such as film shows, that could not be presented at a re-vamped Guildhall. Unfortunately, later that year, a £2.7m Heritage Lottery funding bid was turned down.

In December 2018 the newly-formed Shakespeare’s Guildhall Trust launched an appeal for public support, but the council was of the opinion that this had been former to pursue the vision of a prestigious gallery space.

However, in November 2019 it was reported that the council had decided to submit an expression of interest to the National Lottery. This could lead to a bid of £4m being submitted. The new Trust has provided their comments on this development.

In the meantime, new cinemas were incorporated into a very substantial rebuild of the Corn Exchange. These opened on 25th September 2020 (and have their own page on Cinema Treasures).

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