The CAST building at 3 Penrose Road in Helston was purchased from Helston Town Council in the summer of 2012 and now houses artists’ studios as well as a programme of public events and activities. The creation of studios was supported by grants from West Cornwall Local Action Group and the Rural Business Investment Scheme, both administered by Cornwall Development Company. The investment comes from the European Union and Defra through the Rural Development Programme for England. Contributions to renovation work have also been made by the Helston Downsland Trust and the Astor Foundation and help-in-kind from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose and Cornwall College.
In 2018 CAST was awarded a grant of £499,999 from Arts Council England’s Small Capital scheme to undertake a programme of renovations. The work was scheduled in two phases: CAST Café was refurbished and a black box screening space created to be ready in time for the opening of Groundwork at the beginning of May 2018; new artists’ studios were completed in 2019. The project was supported by grants from Cornwall Council and the Monument Trust, and by funding from Helston Town Council and the Helston Downsland Trust.
In 2023 CAST was awarded a grant £705,374 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the fund and is responsible for monitoring the progress of projects funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Funding received from the Shared Prosperity Fund will enable ‘CAST rehabilitation phase two’ including the replacement of roofs, the installation of solar panels, and essential renovations to the public areas and access routes to the building. It will also support the development of CAST’s work with schools and young people, the provision of free creative activities for children and families, and some key public events in 2023 and 2024.
