New Brewery Arts, a beloved arts centre in Cirencester, is celebrating a significant boost after receiving a £90,000 grant from The Julia Rausing Trust. This charitable trust, established to honor Julia Rausing’s legacy, supports arts and heritage initiatives and has chosen to back New Brewery Arts during a critical period of rebuilding.
The grant comes as a much-needed lifeline for the Cirencester-based charity, which has faced tough economic challenges in recent years. CEO Beth Alden expressed heartfelt gratitude for the transformative support, saying, “This funding helps us keep craft and creativity alive at a time when resources are stretched.”
She reflected on the difficulties of 2025, noting soaring costs and diminished funding, but praised the resilience of the charity’s trustees, staff, and community supporters. “Thanks to extraordinary generosity, including a pivotal anonymous donation, we now have the opportunity to invest in our future and continue our mission,” she added.
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Founded in 1978, New Brewery Arts operates from a historic brewery building in Cirencester’s old brewery quarter. Its core mission is to promote craft by providing courses, workshops, makers’ studios, and a 100% UK-made craft shop and café, creating a vibrant hub for creatives and the wider community.
The backing from The Julia Rausing Trust ensures the charity can sustain its work over the next three years, paving the way for its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2028. It will continue to connect people with craft, celebrate handmade creativity, and remain a welcoming community space.
While celebrating this generous support, New Brewery Arts acknowledges that ongoing funding efforts remain crucial to securing its long-term future.