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Big expansion of Arts Higher Education in Cornwall and Isles of
Scilly
26 June 2009
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."
Ends
For more information contact:
Jilly Easterby MCIPR, Head of Public Affairs University College
Falmouth.
Tel: 01326 213792/ 07825 420690
E mail: 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.
E mail: cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
www.convergencecornwall.com
Editors' notes.
- For further information see: 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.
Contact Details
Name: Jason Clark
Tel: 01208 77900
Email: jason@dca-pr.co.uk