We, the undersigned residents, artists, and business owners, are writing to express our deep disappointment at the recent removal of Holly Astle’s Love Falmouth mural, an artwork that had become a valued part of our town’s identity and creativity.

The decision to paint over this mural without public consultation or the artist’s involvement has caused widespread concern within our community. It has undermined trust in a body tasked with stewarding our public spaces, and it has sent a damaging message to the artists and creatives who contribute so much to the cultural life of Falmouth.

We are particularly troubled by the reasons surrounding its removal. That restoring this mural became an issue when contextualising it alongside its maker, because of the artist’s history in peaceful protest. In an email from Falmouth BID, it cited “political neutrality” and a spent conviction as a reason to exclude the artist, which resulted in its erasure. Painting over a mural by a politically engaged artist is in itself a political act, where censorship has been framed as neutrality.

Holly Astle held the legal copyright to the mural, yet she was never consulted about the proposed school project involving painting on her work, and was rejected from inclusion despite her offers to help, advise, and even volunteer her time without pay. This is a complete dismissal of the artist’s rights, and her willingness to support community projects in good faith.

Public art belongs to the people, and we believe that democratic decision making must be applied for the treatment of it. We do not believe that artists should be celebrated only when they are silent, or that art should be erased when it no longer aligns with institutional comfort.

Falmouth is a town of makers, thinkers, and doers. We rely on the creative community, the passion of our people, and integrity of their beliefs. As local businesses, artists and community members, we expect better from an organisation that is supposed to represent us.

We call on Falmouth BID to:

Release a public apology that acknowledges the copyright of the artist, lack of consultation, and poor conduct.

Release a transparent explanation that clarifies the contradiction between internal communications and public statements regarding its removal. Including who authorised its removal, why the artist was not consulted, and why her history of activism was used to justify exclusion from further collaboration.

Enact an artistic freedom policy that ensures peaceful protest or activism cannot be used as grounds for censorship or professional exclusion.


Sincerely,
The Undersigned