THE Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revised its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy to recognise Cornish ethnicity following the Government’s decision to include Cornish under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in April 2014.

In a move that the RIBA says highlights its commitment to making architecture more inclusive, RIBA forms will be amended to ensure that ‘Cornish’ is included as a tick box option under the ethnicity heading; providing the capacity to create an exemplar for supporting Cornwall Council in securing further devolved powers for Cornwall and recognising the important cultural value of organisations such as Gorsedh Kernow.

The historic decision was agreed at the RIBA Council meeting in London last September, following a motion put forward by nationally elected RIBA Councillor Jonathan Ball, from Bude, architect, bard of Gorsedh Kernow and co-founder of the Eden Project.

He said: “This is indeed very welcome news and exemplifies just how a highly respected professional organisation like RIBA can help bridge the growing gap between cash-strapped local councils and international centres of expertise such as the Royal Institute of British Architects while at the same time having due regard for the unique place that is Cornwall.”

In a letter, RIBA President Jane Duncan says: “The RIBA is committed to making architecture more inclusive. We believe a diverse profession, representative of society as a whole, is pivotal to meeting the challenges of the future.

“We note and recognise the Government’s comments made in April 2014, that ‘the decision to recognise the unique identity of the Cornish, now affords them the same status under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as the UK’s other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.”

RIBA Cornwall branch is already engaged with Cornwall Council and the Cornish Design Review Panel, supporting design training for Cornwall councillors, plus regular contact with planning department executive staff, and supports the possible future devolution of planning and housing powers to the unitary authority.

RIBA Cornwall chair Jane Hamlyn said, ’It is fantastic news that the RIBA has made this positive recognition of Cornwall’s unique identity and we fully support the work being done by organisations such as Gorsedh Kernow who help protect and promote Cornwall’s precious cultural heritage.”

Cornwall Council has also welcomed the decision. Council Leader John Pollard said: “The Devolution Deal Cornwall agreed with the Government last year was explicit that our cultural distinctiveness underpins our economy and our sense of place and purpose. What we are increasingly seeing is that forward thinking businesses, communities and organisations such as RIBA are recognising that too.”