In 2023 a level 2 devolution deal was introduced at Cornwall Council. The deal included £500,000 of funding to support Cornish distinctiveness. This included the protection and promotion of the Cornish language.
The Cornish were recognised by the UK Government as a national minority in 2014 with the same status as the Welsh and Scottish.
The deal recognised Cornwall’s diverse and unique history, with a strong sense of place that fosters a proud distinctive identity.
Read a full report on the devolution project: Cornish Distinctiveness Programme 2024
Below is a summary of funded projects:
A – Cornish language for children
Projects to create more opportunities for children to learn and use Kernewek, the Cornish language.
- GoCornish – Additional resources created for teachers. Support offered for more primary schools to reach Bronze level. 5 new schools moved to Bronze, doubling the number of schools at this level.
- Rhyme Time – Publication of Cornish language nursery rhyme resources. These are aimed at library Rhyme Time sessions for 5yrs and under. They include print and online resources. Training was offered to libraries staff. The programme launched during Speak Cornish Week 2024.
B – Cornish language film and digital media
- Screen Cornwall – Creation of Cornish language digital content including two short films, three very short films, a short-form comedy series, dubbing an animation film and development of a feature length film.
C – Cornish language in the community
Projects to create more opportunities for people to use Kernewek in the community.
- Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek – Organisational review to support better resilience and business models for the Kowsva Cornish language shop and hub.
- Rosweyth – Programme of community events to support speaking Cornish which included cookery events, comedy nights, games and activities, treasure trails and beach cleans. Immersive events including an online ‘mega’ 8-hour Yeth an Werin and the Bos Lowen camping weekend. Creation of short conversation videos supporting learners on various relevant themes including colours, the weather and directions.
D – Cornish intangible cultural heritage
Projects to provide opportunities to learn more about Cornish intangible cultural heritage. These projects also provided opportunities to try out activities, develop talent, showcase Cornish culture and build stronger networks. The projects were:
- Curriculum Kernewek – Developing Cornwall Council’s ‘Curriculum Kernewek’ units. Incorporating Cornwall’s culture, heritage and current issues into lessons that are part of the National Curriculum.
- Explaining Cornish National Minority Status – find out what it means to be Cornish: Watch the video about Cornwall's distinctive national identity and read Onen hag Oll - The Cornish: A National Minority
- Cornish Wrestling – Cornish wrestling taster sessions. Working with different organisations such as Young Farmers and Judo clubs. Identifying barriers to participation in Cornish wrestling and sharing learning. Preparing a collection description of the Cornish wrestling archive. Capturing high quality footage and photographs of Cornish wrestling.
- Cornish Dance – Providing development opportunities for Cornish dance leaders. testing models for engaging children and families with Cornish dance. Creating a free to use online dance music resource.
- Cornish Song – Creating four-part harmony resources for songs in the Cornish language. Piloting a new Harmony Singing group. ‘Pub singing’ project expanded with 5 new singing groups learning and performing Cornish language songs. Songs more appealing to young people translated to be used by groups like Cornwall Youth Choirs. Research and development to develop a cohesive set of online resources for Cornish music, dance and song.
- Cornish Music – Project by the Treylva Collective. Bringing together 8 professional singer songwriters who performed new songs in the Cornish language at Redruth Wesley Chapel in April 2024. This was with a full orchestra and was recorded for posterity.
- St Just Ordinalia – The Ordinalia theatrical manuscripts contain one of the oldest written records of our Cornish Language from over 600 years ago. They held a weekend of free workshops for anyone interested in exploring the language for themselves as actors or singers.
- Gorsedh Kernow - As Gorsedh Kernow approaches its centenary year in 2028, a review was undertaken exploring how the organisation uses its strengths to support raising the profile of Cornish culture and identity.
- International Events and Talent Development – Improved presence for Cornwall at Lorient Festival 2024 and developing more opportunities for Cornish performers at international events.
- Cornish Treasures - Exhibition of Cornish treasures at Kresen Kernow.
This strand also includes an open call:
- Lostwithiel Giants - Developing a digital archive of the festival giants created for the New Year’s Eve festival.
- Withy Lore - Develop website resources including photos and oral histories for the critically endangered craft of withy pot making.
- Cornish Music - Musical project to experiment with traditional Cornish music and drum & bass
- Cornish Dialect Project - Workshops to record Cornish dialect phrases and tales by the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies.
- Kekezza - Open sessions for people to try Cornish dance and performances at festivals in summer 2024
- Place Names - Workshops in North Cornwall to explore the meanings of Cornish place names.
- Liskeard Dance Project – Community sessions to learn Cornish dance
- Newlyn Fish Oral Histories - Social media content and creation and new teaching resources
- Celtic Way – Publication of Celtic Way leaflet and improvement of pilgrim
spaces to stay - More Than Just Pasties – Tasting session for a range of traditional food and discussion of Cornish cooking and recipes
E – Research and evaluation
The University of Exeter has evaluated this programme and the research will soon be available to download on this page.