KEAP is now a strategic partner with Cornwall Council
Cornwall Council has awarded a series of grants to support cultural organisations and venues across Cornwall.
These includes funding from the Council’s HALLS for Cornwall grant programme which was set up to make local venues more comfortable for audiences, helping them attract high quality programming, reduce their overhead costs and increase their earned income while the Hall for Cornwall is closed for major building works.
The funding will be used to enable 11 venues across Cornwall from Calstock Arts to Newquay Lane Theatre and the Tolmen Centre in Constantine to improve their facilities. The projects include new roofs, lighting and sound equipment and better dressing rooms.
Welcoming the awards, Julian German, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture, said “I am thrilled to see venues in communities across Cornwall supported through this scheme. Many of our smaller venues are supported by loyal teams of volunteers and I would like to thank them for their dedication in bringing great quality performing arts to our villages and towns for all to enjoy.”
Paul Mullin, Chairman of The Acorn Theatre, Penzance, which has received one of the grants, said “‘We are absolutely delighted and enormously grateful to Cornwall Council for making such a large contribution to the Theatre’s Refurbishment Programme.
“As a result of this grant, we can replace our aging boiler and upgrade parts of the theatre to LED lighting – which will both save energy and reduce our running costs. We’ll also be able to decorate the main auditorium and upgrade the dressing rooms, so the place will be more inviting for performers and customers alike. Taken together, all this will help make the theatre more financially viable and sustainable for the people of Penzance and Penwith in future.
“Great news! Many thanks Cornwall Council. Watch this space!”
Alongside this funding, the Culture Revenue Grants scheme will also vest in 18 key cultural organisations from 2018-2022 sustaining a plethora of activity in theatre companies, museums, literature, dance, music, the visual arts and associated support services. This includes support for four new organisations – The Charles Causley Trust (based in Launceston); Dance Republic 2 (based near Newquay); Endelienta (based near Port Isaac) and KEAP – Kernow Arts Education Partnership (based in Camborne).
“Not only will investments in our key cultural organisations give Cornish residents the opportunity to enjoy a diverse range of creative and heritage activities it will also strengthen our economy and attract visitors to Cornwall” said Julian German. “Cornwall should cherish its excellent cultural companies particularly as we work together towards developing the Truro –Cornwall European Capital of Culture designation.”
Amanda Harris, Director of Kernow Arts Education Partnership ( KEAP) one of the four new organisations to receive support, said “We are delighted that we have been offered the opportunity to be a Culture Revenue grant client of Cornwall Council. As a small organisation committed to creating opportunities for young people to access and participate in the arts it means a lot to us to have the recognition from Cornwall Council.”