£1m to help transform cultural organisations in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
The Arts Council England cash will go towards post-pandemic transformations
One million pounds has been awarded to cultural organisations in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, for post-pandemic transformations.
Arts Council England has announced awards totalling over £22.7 million to help 66 cultural organisations across the country transform their buildings and equipment so they can operate safely post-pandemic, improve access, seize technological opportunities, and reduce environmental impact.
From the Isles of Scilly up to Gloucester and over to Dorset, the organisations receiving funding share a vision to build a fit for the future cultural sector, that will benefit communities for years to come.
An investment of £2,171,202 has been awarded to six organisations in the South West, with the majority being based in the Arts Council South West’s priority places, including: The Isles of Scilly, where the old Town Hall will be transformed into a flourishing and fully accessible new museum and cultural centre, and in Bodmin the old library will be brought back to life
These grants, which range from £100,000 to £750,000, are for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 investment period. For the first time, applicants had to demonstrate how their project would address all four of the Investment Principles set out in Arts Council England’s 10-year strategy, Let’s Create.
The aim of these Investment Principles – Ambition & Quality, Inclusivity & Relevance, Dynamism, and Environmental Responsibility – is to steer change so organisations are of greater benefit to the public, helping to build a creative and cultural country filled with creative people and cultural communities.
About the projects in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Council of the Isles of Scilly, IOS New Museum and Cultural Centre - £750,000
The Council of the Isles of Scilly will receive £750,000 to redevelop the Town Hall on St Mary’s into the New Museum and Cultural Centre. The old Museum has been closed to the public since 2019 due to the poor condition of the building. This ambitious project will transform the cultural offering on the Isles of Scilly by providing a much needed, state of the art venue. This new venue will welcome artists, the local community and visitors into a fully accessible space, thus enabling a flourishing creative and cultural hub in the heart of the Isles of Scilly, an Arts Council England priority place.
Chairman of the Council of Isles of Scilly, Cllr Robert Francis, said: “I’d like to thank Arts Council England for supporting this important project. The investment represents a welcome opportunity to provide a new home for the museum, help our local artists and creative economy to flourish and enhance our cultural offer for the whole community, including visitors to the islands. It is a significant milestone in our ambition to bring the new Museum and Cultural Centre to life.”
intoBodmin CIC, Old Library Acquisition and Re-development - £250,000
Community based arts organisation intoBodmin CIC will receive £250,000 to bring to life Bodmin’s Old Library, a key cultural and community asset. The project will help support intoBodmin’s commitment to providing a sustainable community hub in the local area by allowing them to purchase the building and safeguard it for future generations. The investment will improve the building’s environmental impact and allow more creative and cultural activities to take place. intoBodmin will focus on understanding more about the needs of the local communities, helping to remove barriers and increase participation, altogether improving South, East and North Cornwall’s cultural offer.
Fin Irwin, Founder and Co-Director of intoBodmin, said: “This building was opened in 1897 by John Passmore Edwards as a free library for the people of Bodmin. He built a legacy that championed social mobility by inspiring people through access to books and learning. In taking over this building when the library left, intoBodmin wanted to build on this legacy by creating opportunities for people to be inspired through access to arts and culture. This grant creates the opportunity for us to own the building and invest in improving its condition, its access and its visibility, helping intoBodmin to build a sustainable and inclusive resource for all."