Latest news 

An SOS to bring back The Poly's theatre!

Falmouth’s much-loved arts venue, The Poly, is launching Save Our Stage (SOS), a Crowdfunder campaign to raise the money needed to fully reopen its theatre for the community. It’s hoped the campaign will raise £15,000 to complete vital repairs to this area of the Grade II* listed building.

At the heart of the Falmouth’s vibrant arts scene, The Poly is a charity providing art galleries, a Guild makers shop and pottery, a theatre/cinema, café/bar and heritage archives As a creative hub, one of The Poly’s core aims is to nurture the development of local talent through offering new opportunities and experiences to engage in cultural activities. In addition, The Poly hosts visiting companies and creatives from further afield, bringing some of the best small scale touring productions to Cornwall.

Following the challenges of lockdown, The Poly has been pleased to welcome the community back through its doors to enjoy a growing calendar of events and exhibitions. This has included launching a new season of film screenings earlier this year - once again bringing to Falmouth the best in independent cinema.

Despite all the good news, the theatre is a key facility not yet back in full use. During its Covid-enforced closure, some much-needed renovation works took place, including removing and safely disposing of asbestos materials recently identified in the backstage area of the theatre.

While much of this work was funded through Poly reserves and assets, the venue needs support to complete the restoration of the area behind the scenes, including the changing rooms. These include replacing curtains, ropes and fixings, repairing walls where asbestos boards have been removed, re-installing sound and lighting equipment and upgrading necessary electrical systems in the theatre. Unfortunately, the theatre is unable to reopen for full stage performances until this important work is completed. To achieve these goals, the venue is hoping to raise the required funds from its friends, supporters, associate artists and customers.

As well as film screenings, The Poly’s 180-seat theatre, is known for hosting a wide range of performances including plays and musicals, family shows, comedy, live music, and talks. Intimate and full of character, the theatre allows customers to soak up the atmosphere and get close to the action as they enjoy some of the best and most innovative local shows and touring acts. Nothing compares to seeing an event live and The Poly has a reputation for staging absorbing, independent entertainment with a flair of originality.

If successful, the money raised by the Crowdfunding campaign will enable the building works to be completed, so the theatre can reopen later this year. 

Ginny Button, The Poly’s Chair said:

“The Poly is very much about bringing families and our community together, with an emphasis on growing local talent. Our theatre allows us to fulfil our commitment to nurture performance skills within our community. Many of our children and young people have possibly made their first appearance on stage at The Poly, allowing them to build their skills and confidence, with the support of a warm and receptive local audience cheering them on.

“We very much want to see our theatre space back open for the community as soon as possible and all donations, however big or small, will help us complete the much-needed work.”

Ed Cartwright, The Poly’s Manager said:

“The Poly's theatre has a vital role to play in reinvigorating the high street, bringing people into the town during the evenings and encouraging important secondary spend in the cafes, bars and restaurants nearby. It's important for the community and the town that it re-opens as soon as possible so any donations, whatever size, would be fantastic.”

For more details on how you can donate, please see https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-poly-save-our-stage

Robert Were Fox Celebrations 

Further to the exciting news about The Poly winning a Cornwall Heritage Award, we have some additional information to share.

Professor Mike Jenks as put together an article that summarises the Robert Were Fox Celebrations last year, which comprised the Blue Plaque unveiling and Paul Smales Lecture about The Poly Dipping Needle. We also have a film of the lecture that took place that day. Follow the links to find out more...

A Blue Plaque for Robert Were Fox, by Professor Mike Jenks

The Paul Smales Lecture 2021, by Professor Edward Gillin.

22/2/22

Photograph of Michael Carver by Gavan Goulder

The Poly's Dipping Needle wins a Cornwall Heritage Award!

The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (The Poly) is celebrating winning ‘Object of the Year’ at the 2022 Cornwall Heritage Awards.

The award was for The Poly Dipping Needle Compass, a rare working 19th century magnetic dipping needle, which is a unique type of compass that enabled ships to traverse the seas safely. It was designed by The Poly Chairman Robert Were Fox. As a Quaker, a ‘dissenter,’ Fox had been excluded from the scientific elites of London and the universities. Despite this, his genius invention brought Cornwall to the fore of scientific discovery.

The performance of Fox’s dipping needles in locating the South Magnetic Pole secured unprecedented fame for the instruments. It ensured they became the standard issue for subsequent naval expeditions tasked with expanding Britain’s magnetic survey and the Admiralty selected it for the Ross’s Antarctic expedition in 1839 - with Fox’s needles on both Terror and Erebus.

In recent years, the Dipping Needle caught the interest of Cambridge academic, Dr Edward Gillin, who went through the archives of The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society to uncover its story. Through extensive further research, Dr Gillin plotted its pivotal role in Britain’s maritime history and thus the development of the British Empire. He then corroborated his findings by taking the object on a ship round the world and was astounded by its accuracy when cross-checking it against the original measurements taken during the Magnetic Crusade. Dr Gillin’s research provided evidence that The Poly was at the forefront of innovation since its 1833 founding and helped make Cornwall a global leader in discovery in the nineteenth century. The Poly hopes it will raise public interest in a time when Falmouth’s role in science was critical and inspire younger generations to think about science and technology.                                                                 

Thanking all those who had voted for the Needle, Michael Carver accepted the award on behalf of The Poly saying; “The Dipping Needle became the most important scientific instrument in the early Victorian era. 

“For the first time, people were able to navigate really accurately because the needle told the difference between magnetic and true north.”

The Cornwall Heritage Awards were organised by Cornwall Museums Partnership (CMP). The award ceremony took place at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge on 9th February and featured nine categories. This year CMP turned the spotlight on ‘inclusion’ by drawing public attention to objects in museum collections that tell previously untold stories - or stories that need retelling from a unique perspective, offering an opportunity to give those overlooked and marginalised stories a voice.

Decided by a public vote, this recognition of The Poly’s Dipping Needle Compass is especially poignant as it serves as a fitting tribute to the memory of Robert Were Fox and his family, who set up The Poly for the benefit of the community - aiming to promote artistic, historical and scientific endeavour.

Further information on The Poly Dipping Needle Compass can be found in a free booklet available from The Poly and Falmouth Art Gallery.  Or see an online version of the booklet HERE.

21/2/2022