Who We Are
Restormel Arts was formed in 1991 in partnership with Restormel Borough Council. Its aims are to promote a programme of professional and amateur arts activity and to engage the local community as both audience and participants.
Local government reorganisation and loss of Arts Council funding have led to a review of our priorities and methods of working.
Although we continue to promote professional events, attracting artists and touring companies to our area, our main focus is on engaging local communities in arts related activities. Projects that engage young people, that celebrate local culture and heritage or reflect on the many physical changes taking place locally are given particular attention.
We aim to cover the whole of what is now called St. Austell Bay and its hinterland including Fowey, Lostwithiel, St. Blazey, Mevagissey and the China Clay villages.
To carry out our work effectively we seek to develop partnerships with local organisations and interest groups including:
- St. Austell Town Centre Management
- The Eco Towns Project
- The China Clay Country Park at Wheal Martyn
- The Eden Project
- Town and Parish Councils
- Local schools and youth organisations
- Groundwork
Restormel Arts is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. It is overseen by a Board of Directors and employs experts as necessary for events and projects.
Some of the key people are:
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Richard Turner (Chairman)
Richard instigated the idea of the St Austell Heritage Festival.
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Mike Hackney (Secretary)
Mike chairs the St Austell Heritage Festival Project Group. |
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Phil Webb
Phil was Development Director of Restormel Arts from its formation until 2008 when he became a freelance consultant and director of Kernow Arts and Music Alliance. He is an organiser of Every Culture Matters, a multicultural arts project and the increasingly popular Jazz at the Brewery for Restormel Arts. Phil is currently a member of the Jazz Services national touring panel and is working on a jazz promoter’s network for the South West. Phil is also project manager for Cornwall Music Forum, a not for profit organisation aiming to ‘inspire, support, connect and promote music in Cornwall’ www.cornwallmusic.co.uk His youth interests incorporate being a community governor of a local secondary school.
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Richard Hope-Pears
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Andy Ward
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Sheila Vanloo
A Fowey girl, she attended Fowey Grammar School where music and drama were not really on the curriculum. That didn't stop her from having a passion for both and in her teens she organised live bands in Fowey Town Hall because nobody else did! She has written reviews for magazines and papers for some time and considers herself extremely fortunate to be invited to a wide range of Cornish theatre and music. Cornwall is rich in talent and she promotes both as much as possible on Radio St. Austell Bay. Sheila considers it an honour to be on the board of Restormel Arts. Sheila project manages the St Austell Heritage Project. |
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Sandra Heyward
Originally from Blackwater near Truro, moved to St Austell in 1969 and has lived there since then. Worked within the Health Service for many years.
Elected on to Restormel Borough Council in 2003, elected on to the new St Austell Town Council in 2009. Mayor of St Austell 2011 - 2012
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Karen Burdon
She returned to Cornwall again in 2005, not able to keep away from the wonderful county, to become a Lecturer in Performing Arts at Cornwall College St Austell. She has since gone on to establish Cribhut Theatre and is both a performer and the Artistic Director.
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Richard was a founder member of Restormel Arts and has chaired it since its formation in 1991. He is recently retired having worked for Cornwall College St. Austell for many years latterly as Head of Adult and Community Education. He has a particular interest in community regeneration, having chaired Restormel Borough Council's CHEERS working party and continuing to be involved in the management of the Burrows Centre in St. Blazey and ClayTAWK at St. Dennis.
After a career in industry Mike, a qualified Company Secretary, moved to Cornwall in 1998 and until recently worked with his wife and daughter in running the Atishoo Designs gallery and picture framers in Charlestown. In addition to being Secretary of Restormel Arts Mike also maintains the website.
Originally from Birmingham, Andy studied hotel management in Cheltenham. In 1970 he and his wife opened "The Thin End" coffee shop in Fore Street, St. Austell. After some 29 years, having expanded into a retail Patisserie and online "Cakes Direct!", the business was sold. Earlier Andy had been a co-founder of the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) for St. Austell. Since the advent of The Eden Project the TIC has occupied much of his time and in the last few years he has set up an online box office service. As well as serving as a director of Restormel Arts Andy is an avid supporter of Phil Webb in promoting Jazz at the Brewery. 
Station Manager Radio St. Austell Bay
Karen left St Austell in 1998 to complete her degree in Drama and English at St Mary's University. She returned, initially, to work at The Eden Project which led to exciting adventures in Namibia doing voluntary work and then to America as the Drama Director of Camp Nicolet.