Falmouth’s arts and cultural centre The Poly is launching a new heritage project to collect the town’s ‘Poly Stories’.

This is the second community project developed by The Poly this summer, and has been enabled by Arts Council and National Lottery funding.

The goal of ‘Poly Stories’ is to invite all residents of Falmouth and beyond, young and old, to submit their memories and copies of photos or documents that would add to the Poly’s own archive. The stories collected will be showcased in an online exhibition later this year.

Sue Radmore, chair of trustees, said: “As we make our way through this difficult period, like many other cultural organisations we’ve been reflecting on our long history. The Poly has been a Falmouth institution for 187 years.

“From its 19th century focus on technical and industrial innovation, through its shift of focus to the arts in the 1950s, and to its rescue from closure in 2010 by the ‘Save Our Poly’ campaign, it has certainly not always had the smoothest journey!

“With the help and support of our community, we want to build a richer picture of the history of The Poly from World War Two to the present day. So much has happened in this period, but the historical record is not as complete as for The Poly’s first hundred years.

“The Poly has made such a contribution to the artistic and cultural life of the town over the years, and we hope this project will give us all the chance to remember, share, and capture this history for future generations. There could be key moments of Poly history that we’re not even aware of.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we will share stories from our archive and the project to inspire memories and shape the discussion. We hope this can be a really positive collaborative experience for everyone involved. We have been at the heart of this community since 1833 and we are committed to maintaining this.”

  • Do you remember the Howard Spring era? Were you there in the early days of Miracle Theatre, Near-ta Theatre, or when Falmouth Arts Centre screened its first film in the 1990s? Or do you simply have treasured memories of Poly nights out, or want to share what The Poly means to you? The Poly would love to hear from you.

Email info@thepoly.org with your Poly Story or find out more at www.thepoly.org/projects