Stories from the Station, our GWR funded project is leaving the station.

After ten months of exploring, creating, learning and making during our Stories from the Station project, it has finally come to an end and what an amazing ten months it has been. During the project we have:

• Worked with over 20 partner organisations across Newquay and beyond.
• Worked alongside 15 local artists, makers and creatives.
• Delivered workshop activity to over 250 people in the community.
• Engaged with over 2000 spectators, visitors and audience members with work created during the life of the project.
• Reached an online audience with our project films of well over 4000 and this is still rising, with the films are still being watched by people and now online to be enjoyed well in to the future.
• Created 10 project films.
• Created a willow train. Four carriages each depicting a different era or story in Newquay railway stations’ history.
• Created three new pieces of professional writing and performance and 16 pieces of poetry and prose from young people and community partners, who took part in the project.
• Held three project events, a celebration event to coincide with the Railway200 celebrations in Sept 2025, the Newquay Lantern Parade in Nov 2025 and our two day final exhibition in Jan and Feb 2026.

To say we’ve enjoyed this project, is an understatement. For the last ten months we’ve lived and breathed this project carving it out piece by piece, phase by phase, working closely with our project parters and the communities who’ve been involved, each person helping us shape the project in to what it has become. The dedicated team of Blystra creatives who delivered all aspects of the project on the ground have been amazing and we couldn’t have achieved what we have without their dedication. Most importantly the communities and people we’ve worked with on our films, pieces of visual art, creative writing and project performance, have responded to the stories and heritage of Newquay’s railway station, branch line and it’s people so enthusiastically.

Our key project partner, Newquay Museum deserve a special mention too, as without their knowledge of the railway’s heritage and stories of past lives impacted by the railway, this project would not have been as interesting and engaging as it has been for the local people we’ve worked with and impacted. It has felt as if the people of Newquay were really ready to hear the stories and learn the information we discovered during the life of the project and that this ten months of activity has enabled a whole generation to gain a deeper understanding of the roots of Newquay as a town, learningabout the fascinating history of Newquay’s railway station, branch line and the a huge impact these have had on our town.

GWR Senior Community Impact Manager Emma Morris said:

“Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a superb programme that allows us to invest locally in projects that have a positive and meaningful impact for our customers and our communities.

“Blystra Arts’ Stories from the Station has allowed members of the community to develop their creative skills and celebrate the lesser-known historical stories of the railway in Newquay. With this project, they’ve beautifully showcased the railway’s contribution to the region through imaginative storytelling, striking visual performances educational partnerships.

“We’re thrilled to see how Blystra has used their funding to create an incredible variety of activities and events for all ages and abilities that has lasted throughout the Railway’s 200th year.”