Arts shop helped to celebrate Christmas in Redruth
A brand new arts shop opened in Redruth on the weekend of Saturday 24 November 2007 to celebrate Christmas.
In the run up to the festive season, premises on Fore Street in the town centre were transformed into a Santa’s Grotto, gallery and shop called ‘Krowji Vean’ with work displayed by local artists. The opening of the shop and gallery came ahead of the town’s big Christmas lights switch-on which happened on Saturday 8 December 2007.
Cornwall Arts Centre Trust led the initiative offering a variety of arts-based events, workshops and entertainments during December 2007. CPR Regeneration, the urban regeneration company for Camborne, Pool and Redruth supported the venture to help the arts centre at Krowji (the old grammar school) to form closer ties with the town centre in Redruth.
Matt Powell, Business Growth Manager at CPR Regeneration said: “This new arts shop for the town centre is a fantastic addition to the excellent choice of existing retailers. I am confident that this attraction will draw many more people into Redruth in the lead up to Christmas, so they can see what’s on offer. There will be something interesting to do and see for all the family with plenty going on, whatever your age.”
Ross Williams, Director of Cornwall Arts Centre Trust at Krowji in Redruth said: “What we’re doing with the new shop, the Father Christmas grotto and the entertainment is adding to the mix of activity in Fore Street and we hope that providing something fun and exciting to do this Christmas will help to bring in more people who can rediscover the pleasures of shopping in Redruth.”
Children were able to visit Santa in his grotto upstairs, whilst the shop and gallery downstairs were stocked full of paintings, textiles, ceramics, stocking fillers and Christmas cards. There was also a ‘wishing tree’ where youngsters could bring their wishes, with hopes for the future, to hang on its branches.
There was a programme of events running throughout December including free demonstrations, workshops for adults and children and street entertainment by jugglers, singers and dancers each Saturday in the town centre.
