Cornish Arts Centre Receives Major Funding for Rebuild and Expansion

In a significant boost for the arts and culture sector in Southeast Cornwall, Sterts Arts and Environment Centre has been awarded a £200,000 grant from Cornwall’s Good Growth Rural Prosperity Fund.

This investment is part of a larger funding package that includes a £300,000 Community Ownership Fund grant, aimed at reconstructing the beloved community theatre which suffered storm damage in 2022.

Sterts, established in the 1980s by Ewart and Anne Sturrock, has evolved from an open-air theatre into an iconic tent structure known across the South West. However, the second canopy, having replaced the original, was irreparably damaged by a storm last year. The new funding will facilitate the replacement of the damaged structure with a steel-framed building, designed to withstand the elements more effectively.

The financial injection from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Rural Prosperity Fund, managed by Cornwall Council and backed by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is a testament to the importance of the arts centre to the local community and its role in fostering creativity and cultural engagement.

Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economy, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the theatre’s capacity to inspire creativity and arts involvement among the youth in Cornwall. “This well respected and much-admired community theatre space will once again be able to inspire our young people to get involved with creativity and the arts within their own locality, making culture and the connection to heritage more accessible to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate,” he stated.

With a longstanding reputation for high-quality community productions and initiatives to engage young people in the performing arts, Sterts is poised to broaden its impact. The new building will enable an extension of the site’s use, allowing for a wider range of arts, heritage, and environmental events throughout more of the year. Moreover, the centre is committed to expanding the diversity of activities offered and its reach to include the wider communities of Cornwall, Devon, and visitors to the region.

This redevelopment project is a part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda, underlining the commitment to enhancing life chances and community pride through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. With a total of £2.6 billion allocated for local investment by March 2025, the fund aims at investing in communities and places, supporting local businesses, and advancing people and skills across the UK.