December 2017’s Ambassador of the Month: Ross Williams

We are delighted to welcome Ross Williams as our December Ambassador of the Month! 

Ross has been Chief Executive of Krowji’s umbrella organisation Creative Kernow since 1991. He has worked tirelessly to encourage and support Cornwall’s creative industries for nearly thirty years, from helping to save the old City Hall in Truro (now the Hall for Cornwall) from being sold for a supermarket site in 1983 to developing the dynamic, multi-purpose arts hub we know and love at Krowji today. He’s also chair of the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust that owns the historic Porthmeor Studios in St Ives and Trewarveneth studios in Newlyn. We stole five minutes of his time to discover his favourite things to do in Cornwall when he has a rare moment to spare…

1. Name / name of business / whereabouts in Cornwall are you based?

Ross Williams – I’m part of the management team for Krowji in Redruth.

2. What have you done to promote Cornwall’s heritage and culture?

Krowji has provided a base for a whole range of creative and cultural businesses since it was set up in 2005 – we now have about 200 people working here as tenants or staff.

Opening the new Percy Williams Building at Krowji

3. What has been your most useful Cornwall 365 experience or tool?

I really value the Cornwall365 What’s On service, both on-line and the print version – we’ve needed something like this for years!

4. Best experience you’ve experienced (in Cornwall)

Too many to mention but I do especially remember some great evenings of open air theatre with Miracle and Kneehigh at Trelissick with the moon rising over the river behind the stage.

5. The family taken care of. The business is taken care of. What is your perfect day & evening in Cornwall?

I can’t imagine what it would feel like to have the business taken care of, but ignoring that, probably a clifftop or moorland walk followed by food and drink and music in a friendly pub somewhere.

6. You have free tickets to the performance of your choice. Who would you take with you (living or dead)?

The Krowji team!

7. Most unusual performance space you have been to?

We promoted Kneehigh’s Wild Walks at Kennall Vale for two seasons in the 1990s – including a time machine in an old gunpowder packing shed – a great show but looking back at the risks we took then I don’t think we could ever repeat it – lots of holes to fall into and mossy wet slippery surfaces in the dusk (but it all went fine).

8. Best live music venue in Cornwall

Probably Eden at the larger scale – though I have to admit I don’t go to many concerts there – but at the smaller scale it’s more about the music and the crowd than the venue, so there are dozens of good places.

9. Your favourite walk?

Probably along the cliffs from St Ives to the Tinners Arms at Zennor (given the right weather, that is).

The Tinners Arms, Zennor

10. Best place in Cornwall to get food?

With so many cafes and restaurants offering great quality, locally sourced ingredients, it’s difficult to choose. I do really enjoy being right on the beach at Porthminster Cafe and admiring the views of the bay.

11. Name one, really different excursion

I haven’t been walking on Bodmin Moor or the cliffs up past Boscastle for years and it’s about time I did, so those are 2 trips I do mean to make some time for.

12. What’s your 2nd best kept secret about Cornwall?

The east coast of the Lizard, from Helford southwards – even in the height of summer it’s never that busy.

13. If not Cornwall, where?

Somewhere inland in northern Italy or southern France I think – Mediterranean beaches are never as good as Cornish ones but I do like some reliably hot weather every now and then, so somewhere with a pool just outside a medieval hill town would suit me fine.

14. Anything you’d like to add?

Make sure you come along to Krowji’s Christmas Open Studios!

 

 
Creative Kernow, based at Krowji, is the umbrella organisation for the following nine projects. Together we support the production, promotion and distribution of work by creative practitioners in Cornwall because we believe in creativity's transformative power and want more people to benefit from it.
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