With large-scale gatherings still on pause, Arts Council England chairman Sir Nicholas Serota paid an informal visit to Redruth recently to celebrate the £2 million opening of Krowji’s newest studios.
As well as cutting the tape on Phase 2 of the creative hub at Krowji, a fond farewell was also bid to outgoing CEO Ross Williams.
New CEO, Dr Fiona Wotton, said: “We have created new workspace for Cornwall of the highest spec that both enhances the health and wellbeing of the people working here and helps protect natural resources.”
Jewell Construction delivered the final stage of the Krowji project, creating a further 21 studios, linked by a bridge to the £3.7 million Phase 1 building which opened in 2015. This adds space for another 40 people to the 200-strong Krowji community of artists and creatives working on the site of Redruth’s upcycled old Grammar School.
Phase 2 of the state-of-the-art building was made possible by grants of almost £1.5million from the European Regional Development Fund and £250k apiece from Arts Council England and Cornwall Council.
Glenn Caplin-Grey, chief executive of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “This has been one of the fastest growing sectors before the Covid-19 pandemic and remains a significant pillar for the region’s economic recovery. Krowji is a much-admired model by other regions in the UK as well internationally and the expansion is responding to an increasing demand for sustainable, high quality, fit for purpose workspace and helping with the ongoing regeneration of the local area.”
