Creative Kernow (formerly Cornwall Arts Centre Trust - ACT) was established in 1984 to provide a programme of performing arts events and to campaign for the creation of a proper arts venue for Cornwall – hence ther name.

Through the 1990s ACT developed a programme of small-scale performance work, concentrating mostly on contemporary theatre and dance. Alongside this programme we gradually developed our role of network support for the performing arts in Cornwall, and we were instrumental in the establishment of the Cornwall Arts Network in 1994.

As a result of this process of building networks and partnerships, ACT made its first successful bid for European funding in early 1999. This was followed by the establishment of the Cornwall Arts Marketing project later in 1999 with funding from the European Regional Development Fund. The arrival of the European Objective One led to the setting up of Creative Skills in 2002 as the key skills development agency for the creative industries in Cornwall.

Along with this expansion of sector support came changes in the promoting work. In 2001 we established a new Cornwall-wide rural touring scheme, Carn to Cove and the following
Creative Skills was set up – the key skills development agency for the creative industries in Cornwall, running Open Studios Cornwall and providing advice and training, funded mainly by the ESF programme.

Supported by the new Creative Kernow sector agency (whose name we have adopted as the agency has closed), ACT began work on our long-term flagship project to develop offices and studios for the Creative Industries.

In 2005 we purchased the recently redundant old Grammar School in Redruth from Cornwall County Council and after some refurbishment began using the buildings as offices and studios. We fundraised until 2014 when our ERDF application for £1.9 million was formally approved and work on Phase 1 finally commenced and we opened the Percy Williams Building in June 2015.