Penlee House

FREE Public Guided Tours
2024-03-05 14:00 UTC
Our team of Volunteer Tour Guides will be offering insights into the current exhibition through a program of short guided tours.
Tours will be offered at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The tours are included in the admission price to the Gallery and last between 30 and 45 minutes. No booking is required, but places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Arty Afternoon: Animals from Paintings
2024-04-06 14:30 - 15:30
Look closely at the animals you can see in the paintings. There are lots of different types from dogs to donkeys to seagulls. Sketch you favourite one and bring it alive as a 3D Air dough sculpture
FREE family activities take place every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Easter Holidays: Sew a Picture
2024-04-04 13:30 - 15:30
Explore how artist Matina Thomas uses colourful marks to make her paintings and then see if you can create your own artwork using a needle and wool rather than a paintbrush.

Arty Afternoons: Seasonal Views
2024-03-30 14:30 - 15:30
Take the four fancy frames on a walk around the gallery and pick your four favourite paintings. Sketch the scene in the frame and then return to base to make the scene your own. Think about changing the colours to turn it from a sunny seascape or landscape to a moody stormy scene or a winter view rather than one full of spring colour.
FREE family activities take place every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Arty Afternoons: Cork Boats in a 3D Scene
2024-03-23 14:30 - 15:30
How many different types of boats can you see in the paintings in the exhibitions? Design and make a mini cork boat and display it in a 3D sea scene.
FREE family activities take place every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Relaxed Opening for March
2024-03-23 09:00 - 11:00
Join us for a relaxed opening at Penlee House. This event is designed for visitors with sensory needs or those needing a quieter, more relaxed visit, plus their families, friends and carers.
Our friendly team will be around to talk to if you would like to, with objects to handle and a simple making activity. Light and sound levels will be adjusted to provide a more comfortable environment and there will be a quiet space available.
Penlee House will open early at 9am, with exclusive use until 10am, when the Gallery will open to the general public. Sounds will be turned back on at 11am.
For more accessibility information, you can view our Accessibility page which contains our access guides.
If you have any questions, please contact Zoe.

Event: Valuation Evening with Barbara Kirk at the Queen's Hotel, Penzance
2024-03-20 18:30 - 19:30
Barbara Kirk is a valuer, auctioneer and sole proprietor with over 35 years of experience in the antiques business. Began by gaining eight years of experience as a dealer, standing at antique fairs & with a shop in Penzance. Barbara followed this with sixteen years as a valuer & auctioneer for another Penzance auction house. Now in her twelfth year of successfully running her own independent auction business.
£5 entry for Friends / £10 for guests. Additional charge £5 for a valuation.
If you are bringing an item, please arrive at 6.30pm.
Purchase tickets now via EventBrite

Baby Sensory Session
2024-03-18 10:00 - 11:30
Free, drop-in session for babies from birth to crawlers. Come and experience the amazing artworks whilst exploring sensory play together in the Gallery.

Penlee Baby Sensory
2024-03-18 10:00 - 11:30

Arty Afternoons: Vehicles of Old
2024-03-16 14:30 - 15:30
Look carefully at the different vehicles in the photographs in the hallway between galleries 1 and 2. How many different types of vehicles can you spot? How do they look different to the cars and vehicles that we have today? Using the pre-cut shapes build your own vehicle.

FREE family activities take place every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Arty Afternoons: Landscape Collage
2024-03-09 14:30 - 15:30
Taking inspiration from David Haughton’s painting of Zennor in Gallery 4, create landscape collages using simple cubist-style shapes and blocks of colour.

FREE family activities take place every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30pm and 3.30pm

Little Penlee Explorers
2024-03-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-12-11 10:00 - 12:00
Join us to explore, play and create at Penlee House! With activities throughout the galleries, these free, drop-in sessions are for under 5s and their grown-ups.
Monthly on Mondays, 10am-12pm.

Arty Afternoon: Favourite View Postcards
2024-03-02 14:30 - 15:30
Using the local scenes in galleries 1, 2, 3 and 4, choose a favourite local scene or view and turn it into a postcard ready to send. You could also draw your favourite local view.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m

Ary Afternoons: Mini Sketchbook
2024-02-24 14:30 - 15:30
Make a mini sketchbook to store drawings, words and stories inspired by the paintings as you explore the Gallery.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m

Friends of Penlee House Lecture: Newlyn Copperworks with Principal Craftsman, Michael Johnson SOLD OUT
2024-02-21 19:30 - 21:00
Principal Craftsman, Michael Johnson will be giving a lecture about The Newlyn Copper Works.

Lectures take place at 7.30 p.m. at Penlee House. Tickets are available to book in January 2024

Bespoke copper, bronze and brass work from the finest industrial arts coppersmiths in the UK. First established in the fishing village of Newlyn in 1890, copperware produced in the following 60 years was some of the most outstanding work created in the arts and crafts tradition. Production largely ceased for 40 years until the workshop was re-established by Michael Johnson in 2004.

Michael has been recognised as the leading artisan coppersmith in the UK. Combining traditional coppersmith skills with the latest metalwork technology, The Copper Works produces the highest quality hand-crafted bespoke copper work available.

Arty Afternoons: Harbour Views
2024-02-17 14:30 - 15:30
There are many views of harbours in the new exhibitions. Taking ideas from the paintings, fill your harbour background with people and objects.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

February Half Term – Arty Afternoons
2024-02-15 13:30 - 15:30
Lots of people today, as people did in the past, visit the beautiful places in West Cornwall. They often take a souvenir home to remind them of their visit. Be inspired by the beautiful paintings of West Cornwall at Penlee House to make a souvenir badge or magnet to take home
Thursday 15 February 1.30 -3.30 pm at Penlee House

Arty Afternoons: Journey Through West Cornwall Game
2024-02-10 14:30 - 15:30
Make a game inspired by the paintings of all the beautiful places in West Cornwall to play with your family and friends.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Kids in Museums: The Twitchers Museum Adventure
2024-02-10 10:00 - 2024-02-24 17:00
Join birdwatching detectives the Twitchers and explore the beautiful birds and amazing animals at Penlee House Gallery & Museum this February half-term. The Twitchers Museum Adventure from Kids in Museums and Walker Books celebrates the release of Feather, the fourth book in The Twitchers series from bestselling author M. G. Leonard. Find the birds and make your own pledge to protect wildlife. Complete the activity sheet to receive your Twitchers sticker!
Design your own bird or animal sidekick and share your drawing on Twitter/X or Instagram with the hashtag #TwitchersMuseumAdventure and tag @kidsinmuseums for a chance to win one of five bundles of all four books in The Twitchers series. Find out more on the Kids in Museums website: https://bit.ly/TwitchersMuseumAdventure
