New Exhibition at Kresen Kernow Explores Cornwall’s Diverse Communities

A new exhibition celebrating identity, fairness and representation across Cornwall opens this weekend

A new exhibition opens this Saturday, 28th June, at Cornwall’s archive centre, Kresen Kernow, shining a spotlight on the real-life experiences and stories of people from diverse communities across the county.

Titled Cornwall’s Communities: Archives of Lived Experiences, the exhibition is the result of a creative collaboration between the Cornwall Lived Experience Partnership (CLEP), Kresen Kernow and community members from across Cornwall.

Stories that challenge and connect

The exhibition draws on Cornwall’s archival history to explore themes of identity, belonging, fairness and representation. Through a series of creative workshops and personal storytelling sessions, contributors have paired their own reflections with historical photographs, letters, documents and other archive materials.

Visitors will encounter stories and creative responses that offer fresh perspectives and challenge traditional views of Cornwall’s past. The exhibition invites people to engage with these personal accounts, many of which highlight lived experiences that are often underrepresented in mainstream narratives.

Community-led and collaborative

Zuzanna Michajluk, Community Partnership and Engagement Officer for disAbility Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, praised the collaborative nature of the project:

“The experience of collaborating with Kresen Kernow on this project has been a remarkably seamless and rewarding experience. Their professionalism, creativity and deep commitment to community engagement made the process not only effective, but genuinely collaborative.

“As facilitator of the Cornwall Lived Experience Programme, I truly valued the openness and care with which the Kresen Kernow team approached every stage of this project, ensuring that participant voices remained at the heart of the exhibition.”

Support from Cornwall Council

The exhibition also received support from Cornwall Council. Councillor Sarah Preece, Portfolio holder for Tourism, Localism and Planning, said:

“I am delighted to support the work of Cornwall Lived Experience Partnership and Kresen Kernow in exploring issues of identity, belonging, fairness and representation with communities across Cornwall.

“What better way to find a voice than by combining creativity and storytelling and drawing on the rich archival past so carefully preserved by the team at Kresen Kernow. This exhibition honours all those who experience barriers in their lives and provides insight and inspiration to all.”

When and where to visit

Cornwall’s Communities: Archives of Lived Experiences runs from Saturday 28th June until 11th October 2025 at Kresen Kernow. The exhibition has been funded by an Engagement Grant from The National Archives.

Kresen Kernow is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm.