Isles of Scilly Manifesto for Culture Introduction

The islands have always been an attractive and For residents, the opportunity to experience and inspiring place to live and work. They hold a participate in arts and culture is a key contributor particular appeal to adventurous, resourceful, to quality of life and well-being. While resident and creative people. The lifestyle demands a numbers on Scilly are small, the potential for and resilience and independence of character and impact of creative engagement is significant. This ingenuity has been key to survival. The local Manifesto will seek to maximise opportunities economy has evolved and adapted over the years for the island communities, particularly young embracing ship building, flower farming and now people and under-represented groups. tourism as the mainstay. A creative community and visitor economy A number of enterprising creatives and designer should make compatible bedfellows, and there makers have now helped establish the islands as is an opportunity to nurture this relationship and something much more than a hobbyist’s retreat, learn from successes elsewhere. with a progressive response to the challenges of digital marketing and promotion helping to raise Looking across to the mainland, our closest the profile of local creatives. neighbours in Cornwall have led by example and secured arts and culture as a cornerstone of both There is a significant challenge in balancing the the rural and the visitor economy. This is not modest home-spun charms of island culture with only about scale and visitor numbers, but a more higher expectations and better access to quality cohesive approach to celebrating and promoting events and activities. activity with an emphasis on the shared experience. Here on the Isles of Scilly we applaud For visitors, the timeless quality of Scilly is this approach and look forward to working with a major part of its appeal. The discovery of a our partners to achieve the aims set out in the studio or gallery has always been a popular part Manifesto. of the charm associated with the islands’ way of life. But a more dynamic approach is needed to sustain visitor numbers in response to changing markets seeking new experiences. Scilly Manifesto for Culture Scope and definitions

Scilly is moving towards a more sustainable future. The Council’s Corporate Plan outlines The definition of culture that we have ambitious proposals for a greener and more adopted is that used by the Local prosperous economy and several schemes Government Association: are already underway to improve the local infrastructure working with regional and national ‘Culture should be seen as not only the partners. The Destination Management Plan commissioning of arts and the production of sets out a new sense of direction for the visitor events, but also as a tool; that builds upon economy of the Isles of Scilly. the heritage of the area; that builds a shared vision and identity for the area that is steeped Both plans highlight the importance of culture in history and has a wealth of cultural assets; and heritage and their significance in contributing that builds the local economy particularly in the to both the overall quality of life and the visitor context of tourism and creative industries; that economy. This Manifesto presents a timely and improves the local quality of life and encourages relevant opportunity to assess strengths and engagement in community activities; and that shortcomings and help identify future priorities provides new ways of tackling challenges around and opportunities. The key beneficiaries will be health and well-being.’ Scilly residents, visitors and creatives. In terms of diversity, we will adopt the Council’s Equalities Action Plan in all aspects of our work. There is a Throughout the Manifesto we refer to ‘creatives’. shared ambition to further develop collaboration This is shorthand for a wide range of creative with established and new and diverse partners, to people and includes artists, makers and look for new ways of working and attract external designers of all kinds working across all art funding and investment. forms.

While we do not cover the whole range of heritage In summary, the Scilly Manifesto for Culture aims functions, the role of the museum as a significant to set out some clear and deliverable ambitions, cultural asset does fall within the scope of this endorsed by the Council of the Isles of Scilly, Manifesto and forms a major part of our future supported by the Scilly arts, culture and heritage ambitions. We also acknowledge the unique sector and other key stakeholders, and valued by contribution that heritage and the environment the local community. make to people’s experience of Scilly and respect the unique character of each of the five inhabited islands. Current Provision Professional, voluntary and community arts

Scilly’s professional creative community has Traditional Mayday celebrations involving local evolved and demonstrates the enterprise and children have been held across the islands since independence necessary to sustain an effective around 1875. contribution to the economy alongside a chosen lifestyle. The Arts Guide (2018) shares the Regular touring theatre is popular and greatly breadth of creative activity which has more appreciated with Cornwall-based Miracle Theatre recently been given a greater presence online and bringing shows every summer. The performances continues to enhance the image and reputation of are outdoors and have taken place in a number the islands and their appeal to visitors. of spaces including the Chaplaincy Gardens on St Mary’s. The May Creative Scilly festival in There is an enthusiastic and relaxed approach 2019 included performances by visiting theatre to community arts on Scilly which reflects the companies in the off-island community halls, inclusive and participatory nature of these Tresco Abbey Garden and Old Town Church on St activities. The amateur theatre club is popular Mary’s. The recently established Island Cinema with local families and has traditionally staged has provided film screenings in indoor and an annual pantomime, a playwriting competition, outdoor venues. and some theatre events for visitors during the summer. In 2019 an imaginative collaboration with The islands have had their own local community writer Kate Rhodes saw the staging of a Murder radio station since 2007, originally known as Mystery Dinner Party in partnership with a local Radio Scilly, it re-branded in 2020 as Islands FM, restaurant. This sold out several times and proved with a refreshed format and an increase in live a pragmatic solution to the demise of the Council- shows. It broadcasts from a studio on St Mary’s owned Town Hall, which had previously provided and output, which features local host presenters, a base for the organisation. Recent survey work includes news and live coverage of council has deemed the stage area unsafe and concerns meetings. about the structure of the building have led to a reduction in public use and access. We recognise that professional, voluntary and community arts are flexible terms with movable The annual Scilly Folk Festival has boundaries. We hope that this Manifesto will accommodated a natural combination of local provide opportunities for people to participate musicians alongside some guest artists and in and engage with cultural activities at many bands who clearly enjoy the opportunity to visit different levels. and perform, including a regular series of lunch time sessions at several of the off-island pubs. Assets

Scilly’s unique cultural, heritage and The popular and well-established calendar of environmental assets provide inspiration for evening lectures and slide shows, delivered everyone to appreciate a sense of the islands’ by local specialists and experts incorporating distinctive past, present and future, and in turn, themes of wildlife, archaeology, astronomy, the stimulus to encourage a new generation maritime history and more have endured and are of visitors. Engagement in creativity has the seen as part of a regular offer to visitors through potential to reveal what makes Scilly special the summer. However, the quality of experience including the spectacular landscape and is compromised by poorly equipped venues and seascape, the superb dark skies, the islands’ restricted sight lines. history and contemporary Scilly life. A number of the off-islands enjoy purpose built, At present, the quality, location and availability community venues which are regularly used for of facilities and venues are a barrier to access. both social and cultural events. However, on St The closure of the museum has compounded this Mary’s, the facilities available fall short of the problem, as it was previously recognised as the standards now experienced and expected on the only wet-weather friendly activity for visitors, mainland. Investment is needed to improve the as well as providing a hub for several specialist offer. interest community groups. For many local families, and particularly young The library is much loved and well used. It people, access to professional theatre and live is an integral part of the regeneration of the music is prohibitively expensive, necessitating a Porthcressa sea front and boasts fabulous trip to the mainland; this lack of opportunity is coastal views from both floors. The upstairs accepted as a trade-off for island living. This has space has successfully accommodated book an inevitable impact on engagement, experience launches and literary events for audiences of up and potential ambitions towards progression and to forty people. professional involvement in the performing arts.

The Five Islands Academy, purpose built in 2013, includes a well-equipped hall with some raked seating and an outdoor amphitheatre which has been used as an open-air cinema during the summer months. Assets continued

The islands’ exceptional archaeological heritage The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust is working along with their marine environment and closely with Historic England to preserve these biodiversity have long been recognised as central features, they also support the local Community to their character and a major part of their Archaeology Group volunteers to regularly clear appeal to visitors. Although this is not a Heritage sites of vegetation. or Environmental Strategy, it is important to reference how these attributes can shape and These characteristics are underpinned by the inform future opportunities for cultural tourism maritime heritage and a reliance on seafaring and and specialist educational activity. Cultural its inherent risks. Although much of the more tourism is motivated by the desire to discover recent architecture on Scilly is fairly functional and experience the attractions of a destination. the industrial and maritime past includes a legacy of lighthouses, fortifications, churches, The islands’ archaeological significance was quays and evidence of field systems and farming first brought to the public’s attention by William practices all of which hold a wealth of clues to Borlase, a renowned Geologist and Naturalist past lives. It is also significant that some of these who explored Cornwall and Scilly in the mid features are now underwater, the result of a eighteenth century. Over 60% of the islands is gradual rise in sea level. classified as of archaeological importance with 239 scheduled monuments, these represent over These archaeological and environmental assets four thousand years of occupation from pre- are a significant part of Scilly’s character, valued history to the second World War. by residents and visitors alike. The challenge of keeping the museum alive has coincided with Features range from a unique concentration opportunities to develop some cutting-edge of Bronze Age entrance graves through to experiences using new technology, encouraging remains of the islands’ strategic importance remote participation in cultural activity. Projects in the successful defence of England, with underway include the creation of ‘The Coastal fortifications spanning three hundred and Timetripping’ app, with Scilly as one of five fifty years. The preservation of these features, museums working in collaboration with Falmouth which has occurred fortuitously through both University and Cornwall Museums Partnership. a lack of development and relatively low levels This will highlight sites associated with a number of agriculture, means they are accessible to of shipwrecks close to the islands and will be visitors today. Many of the granite structures promoted by a new Discovery Map indicating a have weathered the elements and have remained series of pop-up exhibitions. undisturbed for centuries. Cultural Destinations

Scilly was one of only a handful of places in • Building a more strategic relationship with England to be awarded Cultural Destinations Cultivator and other mainland organisations funding through Arts Council England. The well-placed to provide professional support two-year programme has allowed two part- and advice to Scillonian Creative Industries. time coordinators to work with the Destination Management Organisation for Scilly, the • Coordinating the ‘Young Curators’ partnership Islands’ Partnership, and support activity project with the Five Islands Academy and alongside the Council of the Isles of Scilly. the Museum of the Isles of Scilly, this resulted This additional capacity has helped progress a in a publication for visitors ‘Being Scilly’. The number of ambitions outlined in the Destination project won the 2020 Cornwall Heritage Award Management Plan. for outstanding work with the community. Achievements to date include: • Launching Walking Stories, a project which invited five established authors to create new • Profile-raising by helping to reveal and site-specific short stories which can be celebrate the islands’ ‘rich but hidden cultural accessed online or in an illustrated limited- offer’. edition publication. • Mapping activity through the creation of the • Running three residencies where creatives Arts Guide in print and on-line. were invited to develop proposals for new permanent artworks. The first of these, a • Extending the cultural programme through specially designed glasswork by Oriel Hicks, additional funding and sponsorship to was completed in 2020. increase the range of live events for both visitors and residents. • Leading the recovery plans for the museum on Scilly which has been closed due to • Developing the annual Art Scilly events in May structural issues and is now subject of a major to a wider festival with greater collaboration feasibility study. and input from mainland partners and practitioners. • Securing significant funding for the museum as part of the Coastal Time Tripping digital • Injecting a creative dimension to other events project with Falmouth University and Cornwall in the visitor calendar including Museums Partnership. commissioning creatives to contribute to the Walk Scilly programme. Cultural Destinations continued

This two-year cultural programme provided an opportunity to build on existing arts and culture Arts Council England commissioned SQW activities, and pilot new ones. In this sense it consultants to undertake an evaluation of has provided the impetus for the Manifesto, the national Cultural Destinations project, enabling us to assess strengths and weaknesses, and Creative Islands featured in a number demonstrate an appetite for arts and culture, and of case studies. think ambitiously about future possibilities for In Case study: Resilience of cultural organisations Scilly. Crucially, Cultural Destinations enabled it was noted that ‘The Isles of Scilly project us to strengthen strategic partnerships with supported increased partnership work key stakeholders such as Arts Council England, between cultural organisations and Higher Cornwall Council and the LEP. We recognise the Education Institutions, notably Falmouth importance of these partnerships in helping us University. These partnerships have resulted achieve future ambitions. in increasing the Islands’ online presence and sales, including in low seasons, and new commissions for local artists.’ In Case study: the use of digital in project delivery the Walking Stories project was featured as an example of good practice in creating products to enhance the visitor experience. Our Ambitions Our vision is for Scilly to be a place where visitors and residents can experience, create and participate in high quality arts and culture.

Our Manifesto objectives recognise the role that culture has to play in contributing to wider ambitions In order to achieve these ambitions we will for Scilly around the economy, the environment, focus on some key themes: sustainability, equality and diversity, lifelong- learning and well-being. Scilly will have a thriving and We will use arts and culture as a way of celebrating sustainable community of creatives and sharing Scilly’s distinctiveness, enabling visitors and residents to find new and imaginative ways of Scilly will provide creative opportunities experiencing its special character. for creatives from further afield Visitors will be able to experience a Whether we are working with creatives cultural offer which celebrates Scilly’s from Scilly or from further afield, we will distinctiveness promote, support and create cultural activities with the following principles: Residents will be able to experience and participate in a diverse range of cultural • Sense of place – exploring and activity celebrating what is distinctive about Scilly and its environmental qualities These require actions and assets which • Quality – presenting and supporting are outlined in more detail in Our Plan. work, activity and experiences which are In summary they include a wide range of imaginative and well-executed activities including the development of a new museum, a fit-for-purpose space • Accessibility – enabling a wide range of for performing arts, a co-ordinated residents and visitors, to easily engage programme of cultural events and with and enjoy what’s on offer festivals, the commissioning of new work, • Collaboration – encouraging educational and support for Scilly’s creative economy. and creative partnerships and new connections Our plan Museum development project

For fifty years the Museum of the Isles of The ambition is to develop and build a centre Scilly, purpose built in 1967, provided the most with multiple functions that can be shared to significant cultural attraction on St Mary’s. provide the most significant wet-weather, family- Housing an important collection of uniquely friendly facility on the islands. A twenty first Scillonian artefacts, the museum was popular century interpretation of a combined museum with both visitors and residents and regular local and cultural centre would cater for a diverse accessions gave a strong sense of ownership. In range of users including undergraduates, regular 2019 the building was deemed structurally unsafe Scilly visitors, cruise ship passengers and and closed prior to demolition; work is underway community groups. There is a timely opportunity to store and rehouse the contents and there are to redefine and extend the traditional a number of temporary and pop-up exhibitions perceptions of a local museum. which maintain a presence to keep the museum alive.

This situation has accelerated longer term ambitions for a new museum for the islands. A working group including the Council, the Museum, the Duchy of Cornwall and Islands’ Partnership have been meeting to explore ideas for the future. Wider consultation has now engaged the Cornwall Museums Partnership, LEP, Cultural Investment Board and others.

The aspiration to create a new museum has evolved to reflect priorities in the Destination Management Plan as a major feature to enhance the visitor economy and improve local provision. A new museum would ideally incorporate additional flexible space with integrated functionality and access to host research, live events, and exhibitions. Museum development continued

As a hub for visitors, providing tourist In addition, more flexible gallery space to host information and signposting activities, the new touring exhibitions and showcase local artists museum would animate Scillonian history and would add a contemporary dimension and culture through multiple art forms with spaces increase opportunities for engagement. Space for to accommodate live events including music, educational activity, field study trips, residencies theatre, dance, storytelling, literature, film and and participatory workshops would refresh the visual arts as well as providing a permanent, visitor experience and potentially attract a new purpose-built home for the museum collections type of visitor to the islands. and archive. Classroom and workshop space would allow more bespoke research and Work is underway with partner organisations educational events and ancillary spaces would in Cornwall and beyond to explore governance potentially include a café bar and museum shop. options and review successful business models. There are a number of potential funding streams The traditional character and charm of the being explored to support further feasibility work original museum need to be recognised and and consultation. This is seen to be the most acknowledged in the new facility but there is an significant and immediate priority in delivering opportunity to reinterpret parts of the collection, the foundations of the Manifesto. and present artefacts and exhibits in a variety of ways embracing new technologies with improved access for different audiences.

A new small-scale studio theatre would be transformative as an additional space within or alongside the museum. As a hub for arts and culture this would give the islands a showroom to celebrate and share local heritage and history as well as providing a space for visiting events. Cultural events and festivals

The additional capacity afforded through the Cultural Destinations funding has given Our aims are: a renewed sense of direction to the Islands’ • to run an annual Creative Scilly festival Partnership in shaping and delivering a regular in May, encompassing a range of events programme of cultural events for visitors and and activities across all artforms residents. This has been acknowledged by both • to encourage and support independently accommodation providers and businesses as a organised cultural events such as the contributory factor in season extension and in Scilly Folk Festival particular addressing the challenges of attracting increasing numbers of visitors during the spring • to incorporate cultural components and autumn shoulder periods. into the various sporting, culinary and environmental activities including gig Best practice elsewhere has shown the value in rowing, Walk Scilly, and the Dark Skies developing and sustaining a regular calendar of and Low tide events events with specific types of visitors targeted, • to programme year-round events and Scilly has the potential to capitalise on this enabling Scilly residents – and young approach. This will include opportunities for the people in particular – to engage with off-islands and their communities. high quality arts

Programming reflects opportunities for established and emerging island based creatives This requires continuity of staffing and funding as well as the ambition to attract performers and and fits well with the overall ambitions of the practitioners who are keen to share their work on Islands’ Partnership in delivering a high-quality Scilly. experience for both new and regular visitors. Supporting Scilly’s creative economy

There is a wide range of creative people living and working on the islands, some of whom have Our aims are: established successful careers. However, it is • To work with Learn Scilly, Cultivator more difficult for Scilly-based creatives to access Cornwall and others to access business the range of formal and informal professional support development initiatives available to their mainland counterparts. • To identify and provide advice on funding opportunities • To promote the work of Scilly creatives, both to visitors to the islands and beyond

Commissioning new work

As part of Cultural Destinations Islands’ Partnership launched a series of residencies, Our aims are: inviting creatives to explore and respond to • To identify funding to develop the themes relating to Scilly and to make proposals commission proposals by Luke Jerram for new work. We would like to continue this and Invisible Flock approach, creating new and imaginative ways of experiencing the Isles of Scilly. • To establish an annual themed residency, open to Scilly and mainland creatives working in a range of artforms including but not limited to visual art, digital work, film, music, dance, literature and theatre • To run inclusive community-based arts projects which draw on the experiences of our residents and encourage creative participation Partnerships

Our remote location and limited resources mean Arts Council England’s new strategy, Let’s Create, that we neither have the capacity nor desire has a clear commitment to developing creative to deliver our work unilaterally. The Cultural people, cultural communities and a creative Destinations programme was significantly and cultural country. We aim for our Manifesto enhanced by working with other organisations to make a meaningful contribution to these and agencies on Scilly and on the mainland, both aspirations. at a delivery and strategic level. We recognise that in order to achieve the aims set out in this Cornwall’s Creative Manifesto has recently Manifesto we will need to work collaboratively been launched and sets out an ambitious vision and collectively. for mainland Cornwall’s creative economy. We share the key aims and will actively pursue Our strategic partners on Scilly span the culture, opportunities to work jointly to achieve shared environment, education and tourism sectors and objectives. include the Council of the Isles of Scilly, Islands’ Partnership, Isles of Scilly Museum, St. Mary’s We will build on and extend our working Library, the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Five relationships with Cornwall Council, Cornwall Islands Academy, and the Duchy of Cornwall. We and Isles of Scilly LEP, Cornwall Museums will work alongside the numerous creatives and Partnership, Arts Council England, Creative small creative industries based on Scilly. Kernow and its umbrella organisations, Falmouth University, University of Exeter, University of We have benefited hugely from expertise Plymouth. We look forward to developing new and collaboration with a number of mainland relationships with key cultural organisations in organisations and institutions and will continue Cornwall and the South West. to build these relationships. Our Key Actions

1 2 3

We will work with all We will continue stakeholders and the We will ensure visitors are to identify ways of community to advance the encouraged to experience supporting and promoting development and delivery and enjoy local arts and creative industries on the of a new Museum for culture. islands. Scilly.

4 5 6

We will continue to engage We will share our We will work with influencers and partner achievements and residents and families organisations to access celebrate success to to provide access to a new funding streams develop the profile of diverse range of high- which will help progress island culture through quality cultural activities. and sustain these existing and new channels. ambitions. The Manifesto for Culture has been produced to support the work of a partnership made up of the Council of Image Credits: the Isles of Scilly, The Isles of Scilly Museum Association, the Duchy of Cornwall and the Islands’ Partnership. The Manifesto has been endorsed by many local partners including: 49 Degrees Sandpiper Alex Bagnall Bell Rock Hotel Scilly Look Out Articulate Bryher Campsite Scilly Now and Then Chris Hall Photography Bryher Shop Scilly Spirit COSMOS, St. Martin’s C J Mumford newsagents Scilly Walks Creative Scilly festival Come2Scilly Sibleys Island Homes Ebby Tremain Community Archaeology Group Star Castle Hotel Emma Eberlein COSMOS St Martin’s Tamarisk Gallery Emma Humphries Dibble and Grub Tanglewood Kitchen Fay Page Fay Page Jewellery The Five Islands Academy Ian Dunn Garratt Studio The Foredeck Island Hall, St. Agnes Garrison Lane Makery The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group Liz Askins Glandore Gallery The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust Mo Love Hell Bay Hotel The Mermaid Museum of the Isles of Scilly collection Hillside Farm The Scillonian Magazine North Farm Gallery Hugh Street Café The Scilly Folk Festival Oriel Hicks Island Bakery (St Martin’s) The Shepherd’s Hut Piers Lewin Island Cinema Toots Taxi Pot Buoys Gallery Island Makers Tregarthen’s Hotel Richard Pearce Island Properties Tresco Island Rogue Theatre Islands FM Troytown Farm and Campsite Rough Island Band Juliet’s Garden U3A Scilly Folk Festival Learn Scilly For more information please contact Scilly Socks Longstone Lodge [email protected] Stephen Morris Mincarlo St. Mary’s Library On the Quay Story Republic Phoenix and Providence Tamarisk Gallery Phoenix Studios Tony Plant Richard Hand Haulage Twisted Bobbins St Mary’s Bike Hire Vickie Heaney St Mary’s Gig Club Wild Hive St Mary’s Theatre Club Wyl Menmuir