Cornwall's creatives make waves at Newquay surf event

Talented University College Falmouth students, Jan Thompson (BA(Hons) Graphic Design), Adam Costantin (MA Photography), Thomas Jarman (BA(Hons) Textile Design) Steve Wright and Joanne Kennett (MA Television Production), have spent the summer creating new artworks Inspired by the Sea for an innovative three-day event that will take place at the BUCS Surf Championships in Newquay from 16 to 18 October. The event, which will take place at Fistral Blu Bar Bistro, has been organised by young people working with RELAYS, the Legacy Trust UK and Higher Education Funding Council-funded programme of sport and culture in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

For the first time in its history, the BUCS Surfing Championships has joined forces with RELAYS, University College Falmouth, the British Surf Association (BSA), Ticket to Ride, and travel company, Outgoing.co.uk to offer competitors and spectators a full package of surfing opportunities and day to night social activities during the weekend.

To complement the surfing competition, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, Truro College students, Bex Gallagher and Rose Goodship, recent Truro College graduate Aaron Connelly-Bayliss, Alex Parlby from the Livewire Youth Project and Luke Stevenson from Newquay Tretherras School have worked with University College Falmouth students, Emma Thyer (BA(Hons) Illustration), Emily Larrington (BA(Hons) English with Media Studies), Louise Martin (BA(Hons) Digital Media) and Jenny Cowie (BA(Hons) Photography) along with mentor Nick Webb from Bare Feet Promotions to create Inspired by the Sea, an eclectic programme of art, talks, music and film which showcases the region's surf culture.

Emily Larrington, participant in the project, said: "Our aim was to create an event that would explore the reality of surfing in the British Isles, and the issues facing its surf community, rather than the glamorous stereotypes which are so often depicted in the media."

Inspired by the Sea has been organised as part of the RELAYS programme, which aims to provide opportunities for young people to get involved in the production of festivals and events whilst providing a platform for their creativity.

Tamsin Godfrey, Cultural Co-ordinator for RELAYS, said: "RELAYS aims to engage and inspire young people whether it is through event management, performing, showcasing work at an event or enjoying it as an audience member."

On Friday 16 October the premiere screening of Life of Prisk by Steve Wright and Joanne Kennett will be followed by a selection of short films by UK film makers including Urban Surfer by Liam Tate (Best of Board Shorts 2008), The Life of Ply (Most Inspirational Film of Board Shorts 2008,) and 21 Days Later, a Mr B Production, which focuses on Britain's and Ireland's best surfers taking to the waves of the Mentawais.

On Saturday 17 October, Cornwall's top music talent will take to the stage. Acts including Josie and the Lovecats, Marble Fairy, i-Pony and Ape will be joined by Exeter based band LetterstoLeaders.

Inspirational talks by Andy Hughes, the British artist and surfer whose ocean inspired art work has earned him world wide acclaim, and Ruth Caruthers, Campaign Officer for Surfers against Sewage will focus on the environmental issues affecting ocean users.

Entrance to the events is free. Live music on Saturday 17 October will run from 1pm to 7pm.

Please see www.falmouth.ac.uk/relays for further information.

For further information about RELAYS, visit www.herda-sw.ac.uk/relays

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For further information about RELAYS, please contact Leanne Dingle, RELAYS Project Director, Telephone: 01392 454971, or email: leanne.dingle@herda-sw.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

The regional RELAYS project (Regional Educational Legacy in Arts and Youth Sport) is a £3.1million programme that will deliver an ambitious, flexible programme of linked cultural and sporting events. The project is grounded in education and aims to inspire a generation of young people and diverse communities throughout South West England. RELAYS is run by HERDA-SW in conjunction with its partners Lyme Regis Development Trust, The Works and Watershed. The project is funded by Legacy Trust UK and HEFCE.

University College Falmouth is the only independent Higher Education institution in Cornwall with the powers to award degrees in its own name. It has two campuses in Cornwall - at Woodlane in Falmouth and Tremough in Penryn (which it owns, and jointly manages with the University of Exeter) - and a third campus at Totnes in Devon, following its merger with Dartington College of Arts in 2008.

This merger created a new institution focusing on the expansion of Falmouth's expertise in Art, Design and Media and Dartington's expertise in Choreography, Music, Theatre, Art and Writing. The Devon-based courses will relocate to a new, high-specification Performance Centre at Tremough in 2010, paving the way for a new specialist Arts University in Cornwall by 2012/2013 that will be unique to the South West.

The College is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education, funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall Council.

Lyme Regis Development Trust is a community-based organisation that works to stimulate the economic, social and environmental well-being for all in Lyme Regis and its surrounding areas. As part of its regeneration strategy it has been working closely with the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Team to position Lyme Regis as an internationally significant educational tourism destination. Websites: www.lrdt.co.uk and www.jurassiccoast.com

The Works (Dance and Theatre Cornwall Ltd.) aims to support and develop a vibrant performing arts ecology in Cornwall, by providing support, advice and information to individuals and companies involved in dance and theatre in Cornwall, including youth dance and youth theatre activities. Website: www.danceandtheatrecornwall.co.uk

Watershed is a media centre in Bristol that promotes creativity, innovation and talent by presenting and facilitating a year round programme of moving image and digital media activity. Website: www.watershed.co.uk

Legacy Trust UK's mission is to support a wide range of innovative cultural and sporting activities for all, which celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and leave a lasting legacy in communities throughout the United Kingdom.Legacy Trust UK has been established as a charitable trust to use funding endowed by the Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Website: www.legacytrustuk.org

HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) distributes public money for teaching, research and related activities. In 2008-09 HEFCE will distribute over £9 billion to universities and colleges in England. Website: www.hefce.ac.uk

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