Brighten The Corners is a not for profit organisation set up by the team at Out Loud Music CIC. Brighten the Corners operates three full-time venues, is the name of the annual town centre festival in Ipswich, Suffolk and promotes gigs by independent and emerging artists/musicians.

BTC also runs training and volunteering projects for young people wishing to gain event production experience and has over 80 active volunteers.

Providing our diverse programmes and training, we amplify the voices of marginalised communities through music, event production, media, and arts, empowering young people and adults to thrive, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, mental health, or physical disabilities. We aim to create a sustainable future for music and culture in our region, provide meaningful employment and volunteering pathways for marginalised young people, and establish Ipswich as a proud national hub for music and the arts.

OUR MISSION - EMPOWERING THROUGH ARTS & EDUCATION

• BTC offers young people hands-on training programs and a real-world understanding of the music and event production industry.

• BTC gives communities in Ipswich sustainable access to training, volunteerism, and employment opportunities.

• BTC helps young people thrive and build meaningful careers in live event production, sound engineering, lighting, marketing, and promotion. 

• BTC amplifies community voices and increases their sense of belonging, self-esteem and confidence. 

• BTC imparts technical knowledge and fosters social action to encourage our community to address societal issues.

 
OUR VISION

• Sustaining ongoing operations and expanding the current youth and audience reach 

• Expanding education and engagement programmes - iRock, New Gen, South Street Kids, iLearn, Making Waves New Gen, and Girls Where You At?

• Reaching more young people and adults

• Fostering the next generation of artists and the local talent ecosystem.

• Increasing freelancing opportunities to over 1,750 and the volunteer pool to over 1,250 placements annually.

WHY US:

• BTC is a grassroots community music organisation.

• BTC is deeply connected locally & regionally.

• BTC builds strong community partnerships, and supports marginalised community members and young people.

• BTC has expertise in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) provision. 

• BTC is an expert in using music and media. 

PROVEN IMPACT:

• 80% of participants showed increased self-confidence and self-esteem.

• 94% progression rate to further courses and volunteering. 

• 80% reduction in re-offending rates among at-risk youth. 

The Brighten The Corners team is made up of a small group of passionate people who love live music. We all share the same determination when it comes to making Ipswich a viable touring destination and rejuvenating the music scene in our town.

The journey started with The Smokehouse opening in 2016, the community-loved 70-cap venue that boasts an intimate atmosphere and versatile space. Then came The Baths a few years later, the 300-cap fan-favourite venue. Now, we have opened our third venue - the beautiful St Stephen’s Church. We were granted funding to transform the historical church into a fully-equipped music venue - and daytime cafe bar.