Historic MoU signed in Cornwall

Cornwall is an important place for us and we’re proud of our track record of investment and partnership working in the county.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England

Cornwall Council, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).  This will be the first MoU of its type that brings together major investors in culture in a local authority area, and that also includes a Local Enterprise Partnership.

The ground-breaking MoU is a commitment that all the signatories will work together to support and promote Cornwall’s cultural distinctiveness.

It will create a framework for Cornwall Council’s Culture Investment Board, which to date has helped to secure inward investment of over £110m into Cornwall’s cultural and heritage sector.  It will ensure even greater collaboration and focus around place-making, economic growth and social cohesion to support Cornish cultural distinctiveness. 

Our creative sector is a huge cultural and economic asset that is growing at twice the rate of the UK economy.

 Glenn Caplin, Chief Executive of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP

The signatories have agreed three focal points for their work:

• Resilience: developing new, sustainable long-term financial models for Cornwall’s arts and cultural economy to achieve inclusive growth, productivity-led growth leading to great careers, innovation and creativity.

• Place: using arts and cultural development as a means to achieving positive economic and social change in agreed locations across Cornwall to support vibrant communities and a strong global presence.

• Identity: building on UK Parliament’s recognition of national minority status for the Cornish, the Cornish language and Cornish cultural distinctiveness fostering a shared sense of place, pride and confidence in communities across Cornwall.

Signatories at cultural MoU signing on 13th February 2019 © Cornwall Council/Chris Saville

Bob Egerton, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy and planning said: “Cornwall’s culture, arts and heritage is important to many residents as they help give us a real sense of place and community.  They support our economy and make us distinctive, not just in the UK but globally.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “Cornwall has a very special cultural identity, as well as an abundance of cultural riches.  It’s an important place for us at Arts Council England and we’re proud of our track record of investment and partnership working in the county.  This shared commitment to the importance and value of culture and creativity will help us continue to make a major contribution to the placemaking agenda in Cornwall’s towns and rural communities.”

Between 2015 and 2018 the Arts Council invested over £21.1 million in Cornwall.  For 2018/22 our overall NPO investment in Cornwall is increasing by 9% a year. We’ll be spending at least £10 million on arts and culture in the county over the next four years.

Glenn Caplin, Chief Executive of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP said: “Our creative sector is a huge cultural and economic asset that is growing at twice the rate of the UK economy.  From international exports like Kneehigh theatre and venues like The Exchange in Newlyn, to cutting edge creative tech businesses like Triangular Pixels, named as BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, and Creative England Top 50 company Engine House Media, we have a rich and diverse creative economy rooted in a distinctive sense of place.  We warmly welcome this partnership and the signal it sends about the value we place on culture and creativity.”

Following the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the Hall For Cornwall, partners were taken on a tour of the building by HFC’s Chief Executive and Creative Director Julien Boast.  The theatre is currently closed for a major transformation project and Julien Boast welcomed the opportunity to outline the Hall’s exciting plans for the future.  “We want to build for Cornwall’s cultural future by providing a new type of theatre that is open to all and where all sorts of people can come together to enjoy themselves. This is a very exciting time for HFC and for Cornwall and we are delighted to have the opportunity to host this historic event”.