Festival of Ideas launches today in Truro

A collaboration between Cornwall Council, Truro City Council, Kenwyn Parish Council, Truro Chamber of Commerce and Truro BID brings a host of events to the centre of Truro from today, Thursday 24 until Sunday 27 May. Events will showcase what our great little city has to offer residents and visitors and promote ideas about the future use of some key publicly-owned sites, ranging from green spaces to affordable homes. 

Hosted by Truro Placeshaping Project and supported by Lavigne Lonsdale and PBWC Architects, the #LOVETRURO Festival of Ideas is a four-day event incorporating Truro's culture, arts, food, music and entertainment through a series of activities and events, designed to engage with the local community, celebrate the city and prompt discussion surrounding its future development.

RISE, a documentary by film maker Brett Harvey celebrating the history of the Pydar area of town, together with a display of proposed plans and ideas for the future use of sites around Truro, will be available to view in the Boscawen Foyer of Hall for Cornwall from Thursday to Sunday morning (when it moves to Lemon Quay), with opportunities for visitors to comment both at the display and online. 

On Friday 25 May, Truro plays host to a moving feast night, with food and drink provided by The Cornish Catering Company, Penrose Kitchen, Da Bara Bakery and Old Bakery Studios. Beginning with canapes at the Royal Cornwall Museum from 6pm, there will be three further courses at other historic venues around the city, complete with cultural and historical storytelling to enable the discussion of Truro as a cultural destination.

Saturday 26 May is Discover Truro Day, with a series of free family-focussed events taking place across the city, including a town trail, quiz, storytelling and the chance to win goody bags.

The festival culminates with a free event on Sunday 27 May at Lemon Quay event, starting from 12pm featuring live music, food and entertainment curated by The Old Bakery Studios. Throughout the afternoon, acoustic slots will showcase young local talent, while the evening line-up includes Stone Roots, Sam Richardson & Band, Milo Gore, The Velvet Hands and DJ Stanley Duke.

The day-long event begins at noon and is planned to co-ordinate with a group cycle ride to celebrate the newly completed route from Threemilestone led by Sustrans. Starting in Threemilestone at 11.30am and culminating at Lemon Quay, Sustrans will also be offering free bike checks and pedal powered smoothies, plus free Truro active travel maps and plenty of advice for cycling and walking around Truro and the rest of the county.

For more information and to confirm your place on the ride please contact: [email protected].  Numbers are limited so book to avoid disappointment and note that under 18's must be accompanied by an adult.

Rachael Gaunt, part of the Placeshaping Team, said: "The main objective of the Truro Placeshaping Project is to develop Truro as a vibrant and resilient centre for residents, businesses and visitors alike. For the first time ever, the future use of key parcels of publicly -owned land within Truro is up for public discussion and by working with stakeholders and the various communities that make up Truro, we can help shape and enhance it as a prosperous, people-focussed place."

"Collaborating with so many local businesses, attractions and venues in Truro means the festival really does cater for everyone. We'd like people across Truro, whether they live or work here, to have the chance to see the plans, have their say, put forward their ideas and get involved, and hopefully the festival will encourage them to do that."

To view the ideas boards for the Truro Placeshaping Project call into the Boscawen Street Foyer of the Hall for Cornwall, from today Thursday 24 – Saturday 26 May (10am-6pm) or come along to the free event on Lemon Quay on Sunday 27 May.

For more information online about #LOVETRURO Fesitval of Ideas and Truro Placeshaping Project, visit www.lovetruro.net or find the Facebook page @truroplaceshapingproject.Posted 24 May 2018