The Cornish Audio Visual Archive (CAVA) was created
in 2000 for the study and documentation of the oral and
visual culture of Cornwall. It advocates an innovative and
interdisciplinary approach towards interpreting the events
of the past and present that harnesses the multimedia power
of oral history, cultural memory, film representations,
photographic studies, ethnomusicology, sociolinguistics and
landscape narrative. CAVA is also keen to encourage wider
participation in the research and recording process through
a series of pioneering educational and cultural
initiatives. The cornerstone project for 2003/05 was
Cornish Braids. This two-year fieldwork programme was
principally funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and seeked
to create a multigenerational profile of community life in
the twentieth century through oral history.
CAVA is a research initiative of the Institute of Cornish
Studies, University of Exeter in partnership with the
College of St Mark & St John, Truro College, Cornwall
Centre, Cornwall Heritage Trust, Cornwall Record Office and
the National Trust. This network of educational
establishments, resource providers
and heritage/community organisations is further
strengthened through the active involvement of associated
groups and individuals throughout Cornwall.
The Hayne Corfe headquarters of CAVA is also keen to
develop wider links with cultural, educational and archival
institutions in other parts of the world, particularly
those with an interest in the oral and visual dimension to
Celtic Studies.Apart from creating and developing a
publicly-accessible archive in association with the
Cornwall Record Office and Cornwall Centre, CAVA aims to
disseminate its findings through the following areas of
activity:
Publications
CAVA is developing a long-term
programme of books, articles and CDs that will offer fresh
insight into the historical and contemporary identity of
Cornwall and the rest of the Celtic world.
Education
Building on its links with Cornwall
County Council and institutions associated with the
Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative we aim to
develop the educational potential of oral and related
visual research in all areas of education.
Outreach
The project team will aim at creating a
‘living archive’ through organising exhibitions and
presentations at the community level, by exploring the
power of digitisation of audio-visual material and making
recordings available where possible for drama productions
and television/radio programmes.
