Arts and Culture in Cornwall

Cornwall has been a natural home to inspiration, art and ideas since the early 19th century. So much so that, apart from London, you'll find nowhere in the whole country that's host to more working artists than Cornwall.

The quality of light at the county's western end is bright and artist-friendly; it's essentially a finger of land surrounded by light-reflecting sea. (If you think this just sounds like an excuse for artists to live somewhere nice, try standing on Porthminster Beach at St Ives and see how the sand looks like it's actually lit from beneath).

St Ives - the original artists' colony along with Newlyn. St Ives is now synonymous with art and fishing. Whilst the Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum enjoy the beam of the international spotlight, the tangle of harbourside alleyways hides a knot of outstanding local galleries and artists' workshops. The town also has its own Back Road Trail that will help you navigate around its abundance of lesser known treasures. One of the big art events for St Ives 2008 is the long-awaited opening of the Leach Pottery.

Newlyn - its history as one of the fishing communities in which Cornwall's art scene was pioneered in the 1880's is perpetuated by the collection of local and international masterpieces adorning the walls of the Penlee House Gallery and Museum in neighbouring Penzance. In Newlyn itself the vibrant art scene is still evident in The Newlyn Art Gallery which reopened in 2007 after massive renewal and refurbishment. Its partner gallery, The Exchange in Penzance, opened in 2007 and is a stunning new building also dedicated to showcasing work by both local and international artists, sculptors and makers.

Falmouth - home of University College Falmouth and a cluster of galleries, the town marks a modern spectrum of contemporary arts and crafts. The Poly (formerly Falmouth Arts Centre) at Falmouth hosts regular exhibitions of the latest features in the local spotlight and the award-winning Falmouth Art Gallery opens its doors to original works by 19th and 20th Century artists. Whether it's arts or crafts that tickle your artistic tendencies, you won't be short of inspiration in every corner of this creative town. Whet your creative buds and get an idea of what's on offer at www.cornwallculture.co.uk.

For more information on galleries in Cornwall why not visit our detailed galleries pages.

Try it. What's your excuse not to?

You've got the time, you're in a spot so perfect that artists flock here, and there are artists' supplies shops dotted all over the place. It doesn't need to be a lavish investment: a sketch-pad, some water-colours or pencils will do for a start.

You never know, you might begin to see what they all see in Cornwall ...

Literature

Cornwall loves words, too. Whether it's Du Maurier (and the associated Du Maurier Festival), the Poldark series or the county's rich poetic and oral seam - from the Cornish story-telling group Scavel an Gow (Cornish for 'bench of lies') to Sir John Betjeman's enduring love of the county (he's buried at St. Enodoc Church in Trebetherick, North Cornwall).

There's a fantastically rich Literary Festival every summer. Fast becoming known as 'Literature's Glastonbury' the Port Eliot Literary Festival is a sprawling weekend's worth of performance, discussion, poetry, debate and camping. Or visit in September and indulge in a melee of arts, music and poetry at the St Ives September Festival.

Other Cultural Offerings

Cornwall's cultural offering is not just limited to art and literature. Find out more about Cornwall as a film location for both international blockbusters and popular television programmes or why not visit the annual Cornwall Fim Festival.

Cornwall also has an exceptional theatre scene where you can see local and international theatre at its best in spectacular indoor and outdoor venues.

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Arts and Culture in Cornwall

Try it. What's your excuse not to?

Literature

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