Cornwall’s major new visual arts festival announces full programme
Free tickets will be available for a major new visual arts festival for the Duchy
Running from 21-22 October 2023, the festival brings internationally important work to Cornwall
Four Cornwall-based artists have been commissioned to make new work for the event
Part of Creative Kernow’s Extraordinary Art in Everyday Places Project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Flamm Festival, the major new arts festival in Cornwall, has announced their full programme – and festival highlights include an art rave in a former quarry, a new metro line in Redruth and the creation of musical instruments from Cornish minerals.
This free festival based in Redruth offers a wide-ranging programme of temporary public artwork, exhibitions, performances and workshops throughout Redruth - including a screening of Turner Prize nominee Heather Phillipson’s new commission Dreamland at the Regal Cinema.
Flamm – a partnership between Creative Kernow and London-based Art Night which puts the Cornish creative arts scene firmly on the national agenda – will have its inaugural event funded by Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Shared Prosperity Fund on 21 and 22 October 2023.
Four Cornwall-based artists have received commissions to exhibit at the festival, and the partnership with Art Night bring two major commissions from multi-media artist Phillipson and sound artist and composer Richy Carey to the county.
Sovay Berriman, Tate St Ives
Festival highlights from the Cornwall-based artists include electronic dance music performance in Holman Quarry just outside Redruth - courtesy of Abigail Reynold’s Core, an art rave made by sampling a quarry that replicates the former rhythms of industry with contemporary electronic beats – and the imagining of a new metro line in Redruth, from the mind of Patrick Lowry.
Sovay Berriman explores Cornish identity and its relationship with heritage and land, while Then Try This invites you to make music from the crystal minerals of Cornwall.
Patrick Lowry, one of the commissioned artists, said: “This feels like a significant event for both Redruth and the wider art scene in the southwest. Redruth has an art ecology that has developed over several years, with local artists working together as well as reaching out to national and international artists to help establish a vibrant contemporary art dynamic.
He added: “The Flamm weekend is adding another exciting dimension to this, both in the artists involved and the connection to the well-respected London-based Art Night putting the Cornish contemporary creative arts firmly on the national agenda. It is apparent that Flamm is already acting as a catalyst for the longer-term growth and connectivity for the art scene in the region.”
Scottish artist Richy Carey is working with local choir group Tuesday Night Fun Club to add a musical element to his major commission.
He said: “It’s a joy to have been invited to show my work alongside the other artists taking part in Flamm. Even though I live in the other end of the UK, the Cornish music scene is one I’ve long kept an ear out for - my cousin and uncle are both local composers who’ve certainly shaped the kind of music I make from afar.
“I’m very excited about being able to spend time in the place that’s so important to my family, to meet and make music with a new community of voices who I’ve no doubt will change the ways I hear the world again.”
Patrick Lowry
Further events and projects led by local creatives and communities will also happen throughout the town during the festival weekend.
From browsing the festival shop featuring the work of artists in Cornwall to taking part in creative workshops, from musical performances around Redruth to discovering pop-up exhibitions and installations from other artists in Cornwall, there will be a whole host of arts experiences for members of the public to enjoy.
Tonia Lu, programme producer for Flamm and representing Creative Kernow, said: “We are so excited to reveal the full programme for Flamm – there’s some incredible work and festivalgoers are in for a real treat. The commissions from our Cornwall-based artists really resonate to the stories and heritage of the local community, and the commissions from Heather and Richy will give our visitors the chance to engage with nationally and internationally important work.
She added: “There is so much going on around Redruth that weekend –the communities in Redruth came together for this and added great depth to the programme. As well as our six main artists’ brand new work, we are working with a variety of local groups to showcase artists both based in Redruth and from other parts of Cornwall. There will be a great celebratory atmosphere across the town that weekend, with the chance for everyone to explore and experience lots of different venues and find something new in each one”
Flamm is part of Creative Kernow’s Extraordinary Art in Everyday Places project which has received £327,500 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The festival is also funded by European Structural and Investment Fund, Arts Council England, and Cornwall Council via the Cultivator programme.
Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for the economy, said: “It’s exciting to see how the Shared Prosperity funding, coming from the £132m Good Growth Programme which is delivering the UK Shared Prosperity Fund here in Cornwall and Scilly, is being put to such good use. The amazing events being delivered as part of Flamm highlight the strong communities and places at the heart of this inclusive festival celebrating Cornwall-based artists, while shining a national and international spotlight on the Cornish arts scene.”
Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the fund and is responsible for monitoring the progress of projects funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The programme can be found in full here and tickets are now available to book - they’re free of charge but advance booking is essential to reserve your place:
https://flamm.creativekernow.org.uk