Port Eliot Outreach 8

Pupils from two local schools have worked with the University of Plymouth to create an eye-catching installation for this year’s Port Eliot Festival.

A-level students from Lipson Co-operative Academy and Liskeard School and Community College teamed up with design students and lecturers for the project, which will be revealed when the festival opens on Friday 28 July.

They have created message tiles which will be attached to a series of pyramid-like structures and installed at Port Eliot during the festival. Throughout the weekend, festival goers will be able to create their own message tiles to adorn and add to the iconic installation. 

They have also designed their own emojis, which have been modelled into stamps that festival goers will be able to use during the three-day event.

The project involved Year 12 pupils from the schools, working alongside stage two 3D Design students and lecturers Jonathan Forster and Tavs Jorgensen, using the cutting edge facilities housed within the University’s Digital Learning Suite.

For the third year, the University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities is the creative and cultural partner of the Port Eliot Festival. The collaboration is coordinated by the University’s Creative Cultivator unit, which exists to nurture and support external engagement, knowledge transfer and collaborations between academia, the creative industries and wider community.

David Hotchkiss, Centre Manager for the Creative Cultivator unit, said:

“The creative industries are an important part of how we engage with, and interpret, the world around us. This outreach project aims to equip the next generation of designers and makers to understand and experience the design process and career progression routes of the sector. In addition, the opportunity to present their project at Port Eliot Festival at the end of July will be an amazing experience.”

Port Eliot aims to inspire and surprise as it draws an unmatchable collection of artists, musicians, writers, comedians, performers, thinkers, makers, protagonists, agitators and scribblers to one of the most beautiful corners of the country.

This year’s event will run from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 July on the rolling park and woodland of the ancient estate at St Germans, on south-east Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula.

Students and academic staff will also work alongside established professionals to stage workshops in a range of craft and design practices, create a daily newspaper for the festival and collaborate with Creative Kernow to showcase the best of Cornish creativity.

Meanwhile, academics from across the arts and sciences will showcase their world-leading research as part of science events in the iconic Port Eliot Round Room.

Colin Midson, Associate Director of Port Eliot Festival, said:

“Our partnership with the University has undoubtedly brought an extra level of energy to the festival. Its creative team has helped programme a string of memorable science happenings that have really lived up to their unique backdrop in the Round Room. And we’re glad to have enabled students to experience at close range how the festival is planned, managed and brought to life. We look forward to continuing our fruitful relationship this year and beyond.”