A festival of events to celebrate the 200th anniversary of John Passmore Edwards will take place from March through to October 2023.
John Passmore Edwards was a journalist, politician, social and political reform campaigner, and peace activist.
But he is most remembered for his philanthropy, having distributed much of his earned wealth funding the creation of 70 public buildings, including libraries, hospitals, convalescent homes, schools, orphanages, art galleries and museums, and village institutes which stretch from St Ives to Herne Bay in Kent.
To celebrate the bicentenary and showcase the remaining good works that continue to take place through this unique collection of buildings, the custodians and users of some of the surviving buildings are organizing a festival of events to take place from March to October.
The festival is being coordinated by a small group led by Falmouth resident Dean Evans, who in 2011 published 'Funding the Ladder: The Passmore Edwards Legacy', and he hopes that more than 100 events will take place.
Dean said: “We will be overseeing the planting of 20 trees, one for each of the 20 Passmore Edwards buildings in Cornwall.
“Town Criers will proclaim Edward’s birth on March 24; there will be exhibitions, talks, and performances across the country.
“It’s a very busy time discussing plans with those that now look after the surviving buildings, and many of the user groups that work in them, and there are several major events that are in the early stage of planning but should ensure that one of Cornwall’s heroes gets the celebration he deserves.”
Many buildings are no longer used for the original purpose but several have found new uses that ensure that the building remains in public use.
In Cornwall, the former Bodmin library is now a thriving community art and performance space, through IntoBodmin and the former Redruth library is being transformed into the Ladder Theatre due to open next year.
The Newlyn Art Gallery along with the Whitechapel and the South London Gallery are major galleries, whilst the former Helston Science and Art School is now home to CAST.
The Blackwater, Mithian, St Agnes, and Hayle Institutes are all thriving community buildings and will contribute to the celebrations.
In London, two former libraries at Shepherds Bush and Hoxton are now successful theatres, the East Ham library is home to a Community Arts group and in Acton, the library was taken over by the community to create a cinema.
Dean would like to see all of Cornwall celebrate through the Big Birthday Party, and an opportunity to for communities to mark the bicentenary and raise funds to establish a Passmore Edward memorial garden in conjunction with the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust.
To cover the costs of coordinating the festival and to support some of the events, Dean has launched a fundraiser on the Crowdfunder platform, you can donate here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/passmore-edwards-bicentenary-festival-2023
For more information contact Dean Evans on 07588 711936 or through bicentenary@thepassmoreedwardslegacy.org.uk
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