By Rashleigh MacFarlane

Cornwall’s creative workers are looking forward to a boost next month when County Hall embarks on a new “manifesto” to devise a strategic framework for the sector’s future development.

Cornwall Council says it wants to “set out a new vision and key areas of ambition for the next five years.

“Outlining Cornwall Council’s focus for support and investment, our intention is that it will also be a shared strategy for the wider sector enabling us all to unlock investment for the benefit of our creative ecology – economically, culturally, socially and environmentally.”

Councillors contacted by Cornwall Reports have welcomed the initiative, hoping it will stimulate the growth of media jobs such as online video and internet publishing.  A publicly-owned and controlled web-hosting service could lower costs and encourage more digital investment.

The council is already sitting on a report, which it commissioned two years ago, calling for the creation of a Cornish Media Service.

The council is also backing “digital workhub projects” in Penzance and Liskeard.

A few councillors, however, point to the award of more than £125,000 for minority interests, such as the production of a

Liskeard's former cattle market is already earmarked for conversion into workspace for a "digital hub"

600-year-old outdoor play, and fear the manifesto is “just another ruse to pour money into the Cornish language.”

Earlier this year the council brought forward payment of its previously budgeted support for the arts, to help theatre companies survive Covid-19.  Despite this, the outdoor Minnack Theatre, at Porthcurno, is preparing to shed nearly 20 jobs after losing more than £500,000 this year.

Details of the manifesto are due to come before the council’s scrutiny committee in October.  The manifesto will then come before Cornwall Council’s cabinet for a final decision in November.

rashleighmacfarlane@cornwallreports.co.uk