City Hall refurbishment

Husa at Hall for Cornwall is a co-working space for Cornish creatives, entrepreneurs, social enterprises, freelancers and small businesses that’s situated in the south wing of the building. This photograph was taken during the refurbishments of City Hall in the mid 1990s and features the space above what would eventually become the Husa space.

Benjamin Luxon CBE

Benjamin Luxon was the honorary president of the Music Theatre Kernow during the 1990s. Before this, he had enjoyed a successful career as a baritone and had toured the world as an equally renowned recitalist, concert, opera and folk singer. In the late 1980s, Ben bought City Hall’s 125 year lease for £1.00 from Carrick District Council at a point when its physical decline was reaching the point of no return. The plan was to then return the complex to a performance venue by launching a series of high profile, community led campaigns to secure funding for the renovations. Ben subsequently played an instrumental part in the community campaign to fundraise and eventually bring about the reopening of Hall For Cornwall in 1997.

A music event at City Hall (1)

In the early 20th century, civic leaders decided to make City Hall’s market hall available for public use. Since then, the Hall has operated as an extremely flexible and versatile arts, performance and events venue and has held many a function during its 100 year history as a public space. This photograph is from a music event which was held at the Hall in the period 1993-94. Taken from the back of the theatre space, it showcases the interior architecture of the Hall’s vaulted roof on Doric columns whilst also conveying the electric atmosphere of the packed space.

A music event at City Hall (2)

In the early 20th century, civic leaders decided to make City Hall’s market hall available for public use. Since then, the Hall has operated as an extremely flexible and versatile arts, performance and events venue and has held many a function during its 100 year history as a public space. This photograph features the bar staff replenishing the till during a musical performance in the former market hall space, c. 1993-94.

A music event at City Hall (3)

In the early 20th century, civic leaders decided to make City Hall’s market hall available for public use. Since then, the Hall has operated as an extremely flexible and versatile arts, performance and events venue and has held many a function during its 100 year history as a public space. This is photograph features the bar in the market hall space during a music event in the period 1993-94.

NHS in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 50th anniversary concert, 1998

The NHS was established by Clement Atlee’s Labour government in July 1948. In 1998, the service celebrated it’s 50th anniversary which encouraged a series of celebrations to commence across the country. A concert was thus staged at Hall for Cornwall to commemerate this significant anniversary of the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Jack’s Cows

Jack’s Cows was a public art project by Hall for Cornwall where life size cow sculptures appeared all over the county in the summer of 2009. The cows were available to sponsor at a cost of £1,000 and provided an advertisement oppurtunity for local businesses. The sponsors then chose an artist to decorate their cow before deciding on a design and an area to display it. The sculptures then appeared all over Cornwall before featuring at a two day public exhibition at HfC. Three of the cows were then sold in an auction at HfC in September 2009, with the funds from the proceedings raising money for the theatre’s Loved to Bits campaign.

Festival of Community Arts (2)

Kernow Bys Vyken means Cornwall Forever. In the early 2000s, an initiative launced across Cornwall to celebrate the story and spirit of the county and to raise awareness of its history. As one of many participating institutions, Hall for Cornwall launced A Festival of Community Arts which commissioned a series of performances and events which responded to this agenda.