Cornwall’s Communities: Archives of Lived Experiences, exhibition launch

Join us for the exhibition launch of Cornwall’s Communities: Archives of Lived Experiences, on Thursday 26 June, 6-8pm. Including complimentary drinks and cocktail pasties, plus an introduction at 6.30pm.

An exhibition co-curated with the voices of today, illuminating the stories of the past.

This exhibition is the result of a collaborative project between the Cornwall Lived Experience Partnership (CLEP), Kresen Kernow and individuals from across Cornwall. Through a series of creative workshops, community participants explored the archive collections at Kresen Kernow, discovered new stories and shared personal reflections that speak to themes of identity, belonging, fairness and representation.

Cornwall’s Communities: Archives of Lived Experiences brings together these contributions to reframe how we understand Cornwall’s past - and its present. Using photographs, letters, documents and other archive items, and paired with the participants’ written reflections and creative responses, the exhibition offers a vibrant, inclusive narrative that challenges some traditional historical perspectives.

At its heart, this exhibition is a celebration of Cornwall’s rich and diverse communities. Visitors are invited to engage with the stories, questions and emotions that emerged from the workshops - echoes from the archives that resonate with lived realities and interests today. The exhibition is displayed across two key gallery spaces at Kresen Kernow and will be open from late June until late October.

This new collaborative exhibition has been funded by an Engagement Grant from The National Archives.