A recognition of the importance to residents and businesses of Cornish culture, heritage and the arts has been reinforced as major investors in culture signed a commitment to work closely together to promote Cornwall’s distinct identity.

Representatives from Cornwall Council, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday.

The first of its kind in the UK, it is a commitment that all will work together so that Cornwall Council, which has through its Culture Investment Board so far secured over £110 million of investment into Cornwall’s culture and heritage, can continue to support and promote Cornwall’s cultural distinctiveness.

Support for projects like:

• The Man Engine, striding the country to celebrate Cornwall’s mining heritage;

• Kresen Kernow bringing together the world’s largest collection of records, books, maps, plans and photographs related to Cornwall and protecting them for future generations;

• FEAST, which commissions projects to reach all communities in market and coastal towns, rural villages and hamlets alike and “Make great art happen across Cornwall”;

• Regeneration and relaunch of arts venues like the Hall for Cornwall and Tate St Ives.

As part of the Devolution Deal which Cornwall Council secured in 2015, it made a commitment to protect Cornwall’s culture and heritage through the formation of the Heritage Kernow Executive Board.

Work now continues through New Frontiers to ensure our culture distinctiveness is recognised, strengthened and celebrated through the creation of a Cornish public service broadcaster and a request for funding to promote and develop our language and cultural assets.

Bob Egerton, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for economy and planning, said: “Cornwall’s culture, arts and heritage is important to many residents as they help give us a real sense of place and community. They support our economy and make us distinctive, not just in the UK but globally.”

By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, each partner is committing to work together to continue to encourage and support Cornwall’s arts and cultural economy and develop new, sustainable ways to support the growth of our creative industries.

Examples include the £2m LEP funded business hub as part of the new Hall for Cornwall to act as a hotbed for creative and digital organisations and businesses, and Krowji Phase 2 in Redruth, which will see the construction of new purpose built workspace to complement Krowji, the largest creative cluster west of Bristol with tenants from right across the creative sector.

Mr Egerton added: “We need to build on the government’s recognition of national minority status for the Cornish, the Cornish language and Cornish cultural distinctiveness so that we can encourage pride and confidence in communities across Cornwall.

“There is already an excellent relationship that has been built up through the Council’s Culture Investment Board with Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England and the CIOS LEP who have made ‘creativity’ one their 10 Opportunities pitch to Government and business. By working more collaboratively, we can harness our collective resources to make a difference and deliver for the residents of Cornwall.”

Darren Henley, CEO of Arts Council England said: “Cornwall has a very special cultural identity, as well as an abundance of cultural riches. It’s an important place for us at Arts Council England and we’re proud of our track record of investment and partnership working in the county. This shared commitment to the importance and value of culture and creativity will help us continue to make a major contribution to the placemaking agenda in Cornwall’s towns and rural communities.”

Following the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding at the Hall For Cornwall, partners were taken on a tour of the building by HFC’s Chief Executive and Creative Director Julien Boast.

The theatre is currently closed for a major transformation project and Mr Boast welcomed the opportunity to outline the hall’s exciting plans for the future.

He said: “We want to build for Cornwall’s cultural future by providing a new type of theatre that is open to all and where all sorts of people can come together to enjoy themselves. This is a very exciting time for HFC and for Cornwall and we are delighted to have the opportunity to host this historic event”.