The Celtic League Cornish branch has attacked the organisation 'Culture SW' following its publication of a document which the branch say "refuses to respect the territorial integrity of Cornwall and see it as a cultural entity in its own right".
The branch describe 'Culture SW' as an unelected quango which does not understand Cornwall and they go on to say that its document does not "in any way, represent the way forward for culture in Cornwall" (see below).
"Culture SW Sterling House Dix's Field EXETER EX1 1QA Up in England 8th August, 2007
Dear Sir
Your unelected SW quango does not understand Cornwall - an open letter
I write on behalf of An Kesunyans Keltek Scoren Kernewek (The Cornish Branch of the International Celtic League) with reference to your document: 'People, Places and Spaces - A Cultural Infrastructure Strategy for the South West.' This organisation has been given to understand that the document refuses to respect the territorial integrity of Cornwall and see it as a cultural entity in its own right.
The authors of the strategy document have looked at the 21 'urban areas' or, as they describe them, Strategically Significant Cities and Towns (SSCT) identified by the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) in the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and merged some of these SSCTs in the eastern part of the 'South West' to create ten Planning Areas for Culture(PAC). Their plan is to split Cornwall into two separate PACs.
One Planning Area for Culture will see South East Cornwall linked to the Plymouth SSCT 'and a second PAC will be centred on the 'Truro & Camborne / Pool / Redruth & Falmouth / Penryn' SSCT. It seems to us that the 'regional cultural agencies,' which support the strategy document, have little understanding of Cornwall and wouldn't know a Furry Dance from a fogou, a troyl from a menhir and have very little understanding of Cornwall's distinctive Celtic history which set it firmly as a Country apart from England, yet alone any knowledge of the Cornish Language.
All it sees as distinctive are some plastic domes in St. Austell and modern art in St. Ives. It is our view that 'People, Places and Spaces' document does not, in any way, represent the way forward for culture in Cornwall. We believe that the document should be withdrawn and the process to develop an appropriate Cultural Infrastructure Strategy for Cornwall should be commenced as soon as possible. Whilst seeking your comments on this matter, we should make it clear that this organisation and many others in Kernow will actively fight this document to the end.
Dhiso yn lel, Michael J.T. Chappell Secretary - An Kesunyans Keltek Scoren Kernewek
Copies: Cornish M.P's The Chief Executive Cornwall Council"
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
09/08/07