Big expansion of Arts Higher Education in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

A £20 million expansion project that will significantly boost the capacity of University College Falmouth has been approved for more than £12 million of ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme investment.

The expansion, at the Combined Universities in Cornwall Tremough campus, will accommodate about 630 extra students plus teaching staff involved in art, design, media and contemporary performance activities. It is also estimated that the ambitious investment will result in the creation of 218 jobs in Cornwall by 2015, rising to 350 by 2032.

The bulk of the investment will be used to provide approximately 3,500 m² (37,674 sq ft) of new, specialist buildings including multi-purpose studios and performance venues for theatre, choreography and music. In addition some shared facilities (approx 500 m²) will be refurbished at University College Falmouth's campus at Woodlane.

The South West RDA has already agreed to provide £3 million in match funding, University College Falmouth £2,104,333 and HEFCE £1,665, 000.

University College Falmouth's Rector, Professor Alan Livingston said: "This significant level of funding will assist in the delivery of one of the most important developments in higher education in the South West - the creation of Arts University Cornwall by 2012/2013.

"Following our merger with Dartington College of Arts last year, University College Falmouth now offers a unique combination of Art, Design, Media and Performance, underpinned by innovative enterprise and research strategies. These developments will significantly increase the employability of UCF graduates in the creative industries and strongly support the continuing regeneration of Cornwall."

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "This ERDF Convergence investment in specialist facilities will strengthen the connections between creative industries in Cornwall and the rest of the world. It will also continue the invaluable work of the Combined Universities in Cornwall in developing entrepreneurial graduates, boosting links with business and increasing access to a wealth of opportunities for those in Cornwall."

Theo Leijser, the South West RDA's director for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "The RDA invested £500,000 last year to help develop this project and agreed a further £3 million subject to EU finding, so we are delighted that the ERDF investment has been approved. This lays the foundations for a new arts university in Cornwall that will have a significant impact on the regional economy by helping to drive the growth of the creative indutries sector across the South West."

Dr Sue Brownlow, CUC Director, added: "This investment, which forms part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall partnership's wider ambitions, will create many more opportunities for creativity and enterprise, and will enhance University College Falmouth's reputation as a leader in its field. CUC is about creating world class centres of research and learning like this which closely involve business and bring fresh opportunities for commercial and individual success in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly."

COPY ENDS

For more information contact:

Jilly Easterby MCIPR, Head of Public Affairs, University College Falmouth. Tel: 01326 213792/ 07825 420690 or email jilly.easterby@falmouth.ac.uk

Clare Morgan, Media Relations Manager, Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Tel: 01872 241379 / 07973 813647 or email cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

Editors' notes.

• For further information visit: www.convergencecornwall.com

• Convergence helpline telephone: 0800 0280120.

• In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the Convergence programmes are made up of European Regional Development Fund (£347 million) and European Social Fund (£153 million) Convergence Programmes will run until 2013 and follow the successful Objective One Programme and prior to that Objective 5b.

• The ERDF managing agent is the South West Regional Development Agency.

Tweet