Penlee House

Arty afternoons: Rag rugs / Weaving
2026-05-23 14:30 - 15:30 UTC
Can you find the textile pieces on display in the Making Her Mark exhibition? What different techniques can you see? Join us to create either a rag rug or a woven piece that you can display in your home.

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

Baby Sensory
2026-05-25 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-06-08 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-06-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-07-06 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.

FREE Public Guided Tours
2026-05-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-28 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-02 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-04 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-16 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-18 11:00 - 12:00 and 6 more dates
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.

May Half Term - Arty Afternoons: Colourful, Geometrical Abstract Painting!
2026-05-28 13:30 - 15:30
Taking inspiration from the bold and colourful artwork ‘Sikar II’ by Gillian Ayres, which is on display in Penlee House Gallery, use geometrical shapes and bold colours to paint an abstract artwork of your own.
FREE drop-in, between 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm no need to book.

Arty Afternoons: Mount and frame your artworks
2026-05-30 14:30 - 15:30
Wander around the gallery spaces and explore how the different artworks have been mounted and framed. Create an artwork of your own and make a mount and frame to give it a professional gallery look. How will you frame your artwork? What do you want people to focus on when they look at your piece?

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

Arty Afternoons: Scratch an Artwork!
2026-06-06 14:30 - 15:30
Look closely at Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s artwork ‘Atlantic Squall.’ It looks like lots of little lines and patterns. Using coloured crayons, make a colourful background, then add black over the top and scratch out a picture. The bright colours will be revealed!

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

Little Penlee Explorers: Drop-in sessions for under 5s
2026-06-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-06 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, 10 am-12 pm.

Arty Afternoons: Buildings Collage
2026-06-13 14:30 - 15:30
Different buildings feature in lots of the paintings in our current exhibition. Explore perspective, and how buildings look smaller the further away they are. Using building shapes made from card and collage, a townscape based on the artworks at Penlee House.

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

Arty Afternoons: Beautiful Brooches!
2026-06-20 14:30 - 15:30
Taking inspiration from the stunning enamel brooch showing a ballerina by Lara Knight and Ella Naper, design and make your own colourful brooch that you can wear.

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

Arty Afternoons: Mazey Day – Brilliant Badge Making!
2026-06-27 11:00 - 15:30
Join us in the park and explore our current exhibition and collections. Design and make a badge either by choosing a Penlee House image or making your own marks inspired by our ‘Making Her Mark: A Celebration of Women in Art’ exhibition.

FREE family activity; drop in anytime between 11 am and 3.30 pm.

Arty Afternoons: Quay Day – Flying Fish
2026-06-28 11:00 - 15:30
Taking inspiration from the Golowan theme ‘Forever Flying High!’ and from our fishing-themed artworks here at Penlee House, design and make your own colourful flying fish.

Arty Afternoons: Portrait Games
2026-07-04 14:30 - 15:30
Explore the different styles of portraits and self-portraits on display in the gallery spaces here at Penlee House. Join us to try out lots of fun, different games focused on drawing portraits.

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

Arty Afternoons: Silhouette Collage
2026-07-11 14:30 - 15:30
Explore the galleries and look closely at the painting by Sandra Masterson called Dreams. Take inspiration from the delicate silhouette of a feather on a soft, colourful background and recreate this using black paper and tissue paper collage. Choose an object from the natural world to be your silhouette focal point.
FREE family activities take place every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm.
