Fal River Festival set to make waves with new Creative Director
The Fal River Festival, an annual not-for-profit community celebration of the cultural and natural riches of this vibrant part of Cornwall, has announced the appointment of Anna Druce as the new Creative Director.
Anna will be on a mission to make this, the 10th anniversary year, the most memorable yet, with a programme designed to attract national and international visitors to the shores of the Fal River. The 10 day festival encompasses over 150 events varying from music & drama, the arts & heritage to gig racing, swimming, walking & lots more.
Anna joins the Fal River team from her position as Festival and Events Coordinator at Visit Cornwall, where she played a major role in delivering community events during both the Tall Ships Regatta and the Olympic Torch Relay; experience which will be put to good use in coordinating an ambitious Festival line-up this year.
Though a new member of the team, Anna knows the Fal River and surrounding area well; having grown up in Falmouth and studied locally. She went on to work in Australia and travelled widely before returning to her Cornish roots.
Anna spoke of her excitement at the appointment, and her ambitions for the 2015 Festival: "This is a dream job for me. The Fal River area is not only spectacularly beautiful, with diverse landscapes and picturesque towns and villages, it also buzzes with cultural and artistic activity: I can't wait to curate the programme, which will take place at a greater number of locations than ever before and encompass the length and breadth of the river, as it makes its way from Tresillian and Truro, via creeks and inlets, down to Falmouth and St Mawes."
Beginning on 22nd May, the Festival brings together artistic talent from the worlds of music, theatre, film and literature, alongside themes of activity, adventure, nature, food and drink - all focused around the Fal River itself, which is explored and celebrated in a variety of ways.
Working with venues including Falmouth Art Gallery, The National Maritime Museum, Hall For Cornwall and National Trust Trelissick Gardens, Anna and the team will collaborate with a variety of other organisations in Cornwall to offer a unique festival experience.
Tim Light, Director of Fal River Cornwall, said: "The Fal River Festival has become an important and celebrated event over the last 10 years. Not only is it great fun and largely free for local people, it also gives us a chance to shout about how wonderful this part of Cornwall is. Visitors from other parts of Britain and indeed Europe, come and experience a remarkable cultural feast in beautiful surroundings - it's a great advert for Cornwall as a whole and I can't wait to see this year's events unfold with our new Creative Director on board."
To find out more about the festival visit www.falriver.co.uk/whats-on/fal-river-festival.