by CEO Fiona Wotton
17th December 2021
Tradition dictates that this is the season to feel fat and thankful while looking back over a year of achievements and golden memories. Over the course of the last 12 months my expectations of success have had to shift to accommodate some very challenging circumstances – namely learning how to run our treasured but complex organization during a pandemic and following the devastating Krowji fire in May. Subsequently success has come to look more like survival, and this is what I feel most proud of. We have managed to keep relatively sane, healthy, and turn up to our desks in the office or at home as we keep going with all the diverse activity that forms our day-to-day work.
To reflect now on what has not just been an exercise of survival but one of our busiest years containing huge achievements is truly remarkable. The whole Creative Kernow team has embraced new opportunities and partnerships and, with the support of our Trustees, non-executive directors and funders, has produced some glowing highlights:
Krowji Christmas Open Studios which welcomed over a thousand visitors last month returned much needed joy and light to our creative community and allowed us to finally show off the extension to the Percy Williams building which opened last year in the middle of national lockdown.
Our collaborative approach to managing the G7 cultural programme landed some vital messages about Cornwall’s creative strengths and ongoing challenges with government through the Behind the Postcard film and Shout Louder campaign.
We began developing a new partnership with Cornwall Museums’ Partnership and securing funding which will help us to test out new culture-led and sustainable approaches to town centre renewal (we look forward to telling you more about this early in the new year).
Working with producer and curator Cathy Mager as our Clore Fellow has opened up so many avenues for artistic exploration and community engagement as well as bringing new understanding of how we can use the experiences of disabled people in designing and delivery our work.
Huge thanks to everyone who has helped us through this challenging year and I look forward to connecting with you in 2022. With all best wishes for a very Happy Christmas!
Fiona