They
will re-open in the autumn to provide six artists' studios on the site
where many of the Newlyn painters worked in the late 19th century.
Trewarveneth
Studio originally served as the local infant school. The artist John
Wells bought the building in 1967, and he and the sculptor Denis
Mitchell subsequently used it as their studios.
Following the
death of John Wells in 2000, it was bequeathed to the Borlase Smart
Trust, and the Trust changed its name to acknowledge this bequest.
The
Trust started to raise funds to carry out all the necessary repairs and
alterations and the fund-raising target was finally reached earlier
this year thanks to substantial private donations and important
contributions from Arts Council England, Rural Cornwall Partnership,
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation and the Garfield Weston Foundation.
The renovation works are being carried out by Paul Mitchell Builders of Penzance.
Chris
Hibbert, the Trust manager, said: "I am so pleased that Trewarveneth
Studios will soon be re-opening to provide much-needed work space for
local artists. It is very satisfying to be able to restore this lovely
old building, and to contribute to the regeneration of Newlyn.
"I
am most grateful to all the individuals and organisations that have
made this possible. Special thanks are due to my predecessor Cath
Wallace, who started this project and was responsible for raising much
of the funding."
* To obtain more details about these studios, e-mail min@bsjwtrust.co.uk or send a stamped addressed envelope to Borlase Smart John Wells Trust, c/o Barn House, Mill Road, Penponds, Camborne TR14 0QH.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN