Garfield Weston Foundation Awards £250,000 To Cambridge Arts Theatre Redevelopment

Cambridge Arts Theatre has received a £250,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation to support the next phase of its redevelopment project.

Following the completion of Phase One, which included renovations to the main auditorium and backstage areas, the theatre is moving forward with plans to create a new 200-seat studio theatre. The proposed space will be constructed on the building’s roof, replacing existing offices and the former Roof Garden Restaurant, and is intended to serve as a flexible venue for new work and community programming.

Sir Richard Dearlove, Chair of Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust, said: “I am deeply grateful to Garfield Weston Foundation for their generosity and investment in Cambridge's cultural future. Their support will enable us to expand and diversify our programme, increase access for artists and audiences, deepen opportunities for young people and community participation, and create the conditions for new forms of creativity to flourish in our vibrant city.”

The Garfield Weston Foundation supports charities across the UK and has awarded nearly £1.7 billion in grants since its establishment in 1958. In the 2024–2025 financial year, the foundation distributed almost £130 million to 2,967 charities.

The grant marks a step forward in the theatre’s long-term redevelopment plans, which aim to expand its artistic programming and community engagement. The project builds on earlier support from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Backstage Trust, which funded the initial phase of renovations.

Founded in 1936 by John Maynard Keynes, Cambridge Arts Theatre has been a longstanding cultural venue in the city. The current redevelopment represents the most extensive project in its history, with additional plans for expanded creative learning and engagement initiatives.