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Acorn Appoints Consultant to Secure Its Future

The trustees of the Acorn Arts Centre in Penzance have, thanks to funding from Arts Council England and Cornwall Council, just appointed a project consultant to work on the development of a new way of operating the centre. Paula Hammond is currently the part-time Strategic Director of Wiltshire Dancing, the county’s dance development agency, and until earlier this year was for ten years Director of the successful Merlin Theatre in Frome, Somerset. Paula will start work immediately, with the aim of delivering a new plan by the beginning of next year.

The trustees said: “Paula will be contacting all of those who in recent months have put forward ideas for the future of The Acorn with a view to assessing all of them. Over the next few weeks we will be working together to arrive at the best way of making The Acorn sustainable as a centre for the arts in West Cornwall”.

“Paula is a former Chair of Theatre Somerset and Somerset Thrive and, through this and other work, has strong connections with artists and organisations in Cornwall. We are delighted to have attracted someone with her considerable experience who knows the arts landscape in the South West but can be clear and objective about the way in which The Acorn should move forward. She’ll be visiting Penzance frequently and many of our supporters will have the opportunity to meet her. She will also be conducting research into the wishes of the wider public.”

It is hoped that new proposals can be presented to the public during December. In the meantime, the trustees emphasise that the theatre is not closed. It is available to hire by individuals or groups prepared to provide the personnel needed to run their event. A weekly dance class is being held there and on December 15th and 16th Miracle Theatre will make a welcome Christmas visit with their new show Beauty and The Beast From Mars.

- by Simon Cole

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