What is Important to the Arts in the Harbour Development?

After fishing, Newlyn means Art.

Well over 100 people work in the creative industries in Newlyn, and the annual turnover for the Arts could be as much as £2 million.

Newlyn’s reputation as a base for artists of national and international importance has flourished alongside its fishing industry. The famous Newlyn School, with Stanhope Forbes and Garnier, was later superseded by influential modern painters such as Terry Frost. Many of their descendents are also Newlyn artists. A significant number of important contemporary artists continue to live, work and show in Newlyn.

Why are so many successful artists in Newlyn?

• The way it looks, from the harbour activities to the shining water of the bay
• The ethos of a hard-working fishing village:
  “I like that I have to pick my way to the workshop past dead sharks” - P.T., successful Newlyn-based artist
• Other good artists and successful galleries are already here. Both attract discerning people who buy art.

All these are directly contingent on the layout of the harbour and the sort of activities visible from the thoroughfares.

In the arts forum, Voice of the Arts in Newlyn (VAN), we have had searching debates which have led us to be able to reflect the opinions of a large number of resident artists, about the Harbour Development. We have found wide consensus on what is important for the new design.

The list below is qualified by these points:

• The arts are inspired largely by the fishing industry. If poor decisions are made, they will put off artists and the more discerning public.
• What follows are principles, rather than specific requirements or concrete proposals. They are not intended as a coherent plan, but as a basis of informed opinion to help with design considerations.

In the design of the harbour, these are the principles we consider of most importance to the arts:

1. It really matters what it looks like:

• Any additional infill should be as little as possible - the waterfront is Newlyn’s particular asset, for the whole community
• There should be access to the main quays for people who want to look (bearing in mind safety issues)
• The harbour should be visible to all from the Strand
• It should be easy to see the working fishing boats
• The market, if on the harbour, should be possible to see into and even right through
• New buildings on the waterfront and harbour should be of varied height, generally low, with plenty of gaps to see in between them
• The architecture should be of the highest quality, modern and sympathetic; local materials are preferred.

2. We mind a lot about the ethos and socio-economics of the community:

• New structures on the harbour should only be those that pertain directly to fishing, shipping and boats
• Indirectly related businesses (cafes, shops, visitor attractions) should be encouraged by a range of partnerships to grow up alongside, rather than on, the harbour as independent small businesses in a variety of premises, to give more local people opportunities to start and develop their own businesses.
• A balanced mix should be maintained of residential housing, retail premises and workshop space in the areas right next to the harbour (in and around the Strand), avoiding a “dead” enclave of second homes and holiday lets, and keeping the productive, creative “soul” of Newlyn right at its centre.

In addition, we feel that traffic and parking are important factors in the aesthetics and economics of Newlyn.

• Traffic, especially large lorries, should be minimised
• More car parking would be helpful, but it should be visually unobtrusive eg underground or out of town
• The idea of electric transport to take fish to Stable Hobba is supported by VAN.