Appeal to help Cornwall creative hub 'devastated' by fire hits 10k target in one day
More than £10,000 has been raised to help the arts community at Krowji in Redruth, after studio spaces were destroyed
Last updated 17th May 2021
A Crowdfunder has raised thousands of pounds for the Cornish creative hub hit by a huge fire.
Several studio spaces at the heart of the Krowji site in Redruth were completely destroyed in Sunday's blaze.
Luckily no-one was hurt and firefighters managed to stop it from spreading to surrounding workshops.
However, the team in charge has described the damage as 'devastating' for the community.
The Just Giving page to help all the affected artists smashed its £10,000 target in a day!
It was set up by Charlie Coleman, who owned the Melting Pot Cafe at Krowji until it closed down three years ago.
"Krowji is not just charity offices or a gallery but a living, breathing home to many artists and creative minds from all walks of life. Many of these tenants will have just lost artwork to not just the fire, but smoke and water too. Art is not something a simple small insurance check can solve, and many will have lost work that may have taken months if not years to produce, and would thus have now lost their livelihood.
"Krowji will be well known to many art fans for organising and being at the centre of Cornwall's annual Open Studios event, where artists across the county open up the private studios and homes to the public to come in and see inside their lives (and heads too) and possibly, especially for the artists, buy some artwork too.
"Having owned The Melting Pot Cafe at Krowji for its last 3 years before it closed down, I had the pleasure and privilege to serve and make friends with many of the tenants and I know this has come as a crippling blow to some who have already suffered from not just the problems of Covid, but also drastic cuts in financial support for the art community.
"So I ask if you can help too, even if it's just the price of your next coffee"
Charlie Coleman, Just Giving
Messages and offers of support have been pouring in from across the local area and the arts community in Cornwall.
Cornwall Civic Office tweeted: "Devastating news as fire rips out the artistic heart of Redruth. Grateful thanks to @CornwallFRS for their heroic efforts in preventing the blaze from eating up the newer building and the old grammar school building".
The Bishop of Truro, Philip Mountstephen posted: "I’m so sorry to read this. I know how important @Krowji is to so many of Cornwall’s creatives".
The Design Trust tweeted: "So sorry to hear about the devastating fire at @Krowji Cornwall's centre for art in Redruth. Donate on @justgiving and help raise £££ for artists who lost their studios, work equipment".
Fiona Wotton from Creative Kernow later tweeted: "We are devastated that our artists have lost their studios at @Creative_Kernow’s hub @Krowji Thank you @CornwalFRS for your bravery and assistance and to everyone helping us in so many ways. Meur ras. Thank you".
You can read more and find out how to donate to the Crowdfunder appeal here.