Celebrating Black Experiences in Cornwall: A Collaborative Zine by the SU and ACS
We’re so excited to share with you a powerful and inspiring zine that we’ve created in collaboration with ACS. This project highlights the experiences of Black students in Cornwall and celebrates their diversity, strength, and resilience.
Bringing Stories to Life
The zine is the result of months of hard work, led by Ella Salau. Elle captured stunning portraits and sent out a survey to gather honest insights into the lives of Black students living in Cornwall. These personal accounts offer an authentic perspective on both the challenges and triumphs of life in a region where people of colour are a small minority. We were honoured to assist Elle in bringing her vision to life.
A Statement from ACS
"Although we are small in number, our ACS has been formed to remind those of a taste of home. In Cornwall people of colour are a small minority and we look to not ostracize anyone in the community but help them feel welcome and safe in surroundings not familiar to them. We do this through society events and lectures. We believe in looking out for each other and helping out in the growth of each committee member.
This project stands as a tribute to our community, past, present and future. It reflects our commitment to building a community where individuals can connect, share their experiences, and feel supported. ACS allows a network of people to come together fostering a sense of belonging and to amplify voices that are often underrepresented.
Through these pages, you’ll find an honest depiction of life as a Black person in Cornwall. The portraits highlight the diversity and strength of our community, while the survey responses offer insight into the challenges, triumphs, and reflections that shape our identities. We hope that through reading and engaging with this book, you grow your understanding. We hope it inspires empathy, opens dialogue and encourages celebration of diversity in Cornwall."
Elle's Artist Statement
My name is Ella Salau, and I am a second-year Photography student at Falmouth University. Born and raised in South East London, with Saint Lucian and Nigerian heritage, I moved to Cornwall to pursue photography—a subject I had not studied before. This transition has been as much a cultural adjustment as an academic one, with the area’s lack of diversity presenting significant personal and social challenges.
As one of the only Black students in my course, I have faced feelings of isolation. While my educational background prepared me for navigating predominantly non-diverse spaces, the distance from home and the absence of representation have compounded these difficulties. Despite this, I remain committed and passionate about my craft and the opportunities it offers.
In my role as Social Media Manager, Photographer, and Falmouth Representative of the African Caribbean Society (ACS) for 2024/25, I am dedicated to creating spaces where Black creatives feel seen, supported, and valued. My work in ACS focuses on fostering a welcoming and inclusive community, bridging creative and academic pursuits, and amplifying underrepresented voices.
These experiences inform my photography practice and this project, which explores the realities of being a Black student in Cornwall. Through portraiture and storytelling, I examine identity, resilience, and the need for community. My work aims to highlight the complexities of navigating these spaces while advocating for greater inclusivity and representation.
While my time in Cornwall has been challenging, it has also shaped my personal and artistic growth. I hope my contributions inspire others to embrace their journeys and advocate for change in underrepresented spaces. I will continue to focus on creating a welcoming space for all. A space which is as creative as academic, offering a space for everyone to feel they can fit in. A space I wish was there for me. A space of solace.
We’re so proud of this project and hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired us.
Read Solace here.