DISAPPOINTMENT AT LOST OPPORTUNITY TO REPRIEVE BABYLON ARTS

DISAPPOINTMENT AT LOST OPPORTUNITY TO REPRIEVE BABYLON ARTS

Commenting on the announcement by Babylon Arts of its closure with effect from September 2025, Cllr Lorna Dupré (Leader, Lib Dem & Independent Group, East Cambs District Council) said:

“This is very sad news indeed, and will leave a huge void in Ely's arts scene. Babylon Arts has been struggling recently, and we knew that time was now critical, but had hoped to give it a reprieve to enable it to regroup.

“Ely North Lib Dem county councillor Alison Whelan devoted considerable time in recent weeks to working with Babylon Arts on a viable business plan. Our group's amendment to the Conservatives' budget on the district council last month would have added funding for tourism and the arts with no need to increase council tax. This could have helped put Babylon Arts on a more sustainable footing, but was voted down.”

Ely & East Cambs MP Charlotte Cane added:

“The arts not only enrich our lives and add vibrancy to our city, but they also attract tourism and revenue to support our district. It's deeply sad that Babylon Arts found itself in this position, and that the window of opportunity to help was so narrow.

“But it’s also very disappointing indeed that the council's Conservative leadership took such a shortsighted view, and was prepared to see Babylon Arts go under when an alternative that would have cost local taxpayers no more in council tax was available to them. I am keen to work with anyone interested in helping to re-shape arts opportunities in East Cambridgeshire.”