The international summit hosted in Cornwall last month marked a key milestone in the Cornwall Council-backed European Regions of Culture campaign (www.e-r-o-c.com). From the 8th to the 13th November, a delegation of local government officials and policy-makers from other rural European areas visited the county to learn more about the work underway in Cornwall’s culture sector and also to discuss how the campaign to get the EU to create a new ‘Region of Culture’ designation – similar to that of the Capitals of Culture scheme - can best move forward.
The conference was hosted in Falmouth and marked the culmination of a year-long pilot programme (funded by the EU’s Culture 2007 Programme) involving Cornwall, the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region of Poland and South Ostrobothnia in Finland. More than thirty other regions from across the continent are now in support of the bid, with a number of them represented on the final day of the conference.
During the week, the delegation visited a number of Cornish cultural sites and organisations including The Heartlands Project, Tate St Ives, Port Eliot, The Tolmen Centre, Trebah Gardens and King Edward Mine. The final day was held at the Woodlane Campus of University College Falmouth and featured speeches from Ann Branch (Head of Culture Unit DG Culture and Education, European Commission) and representatives from the think-tank DEMOS. In addition, a forum-style debate was chaired by Professor Ann Carlisle, Rector of University College Falmouth, and featured panel-members Alan Qualtrough, editor of the Western Morning News, Jonathan Davies from the UK Film Council, Dr David Harvey from Exeter University and Nema El-Nahas from Arts Council South West.
“The conference has generated a lot of important discussion about why this new designation is needed,” said EROC campaign director Miranda Bird. “We believe that the EU needs to sit up and take notice of rural areas and realise that regions like Cornwall have cultural assets that rival those of the largest urban centres. Culture in rural areas is different to that of cities but it is equally deserving of support, investment and celebration. The Cornwall conference has given us a lot to think about but it has also been an invaluable event in terms of strengthening our relations with other EU areas and bringing the campaign into the spotlight once again. It has given us a new focus and vigour and we are determined to push forward and make it happen.”
Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for the Economy and Regeneration, said: “It was an incredibly interesting week and a great opportunity for everyone to see the stunning landscapes and cultural riches that Cornwall has to offer.
“We had some very positive messages from a variety of people attending the conference. The EU is delighted with the work that we have carried out so far and they have encouraged us to continue working with our partners to build a clear case for going forward.”
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