Penlee House

FREE Public Guided Tours
2023-10-31 11:00 - 12:00 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.
During December we will be running additional tours at 2.00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Arty Afternoon: Delightful Decorations
2023-12-16 14:30 - 15:30
Join us to create a variety of homemade Christmas decorations.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Arty Afternoons: Paper Chain People
2024-01-06 14:30 - 15:30
Come along and see the bowlers in Bryan Pearce’s painting The St Ives Bowling Club and have a go at making a paper chain of bowlers.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Penlee Baby Sensory
2023-11-13 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.

Little Penlee Explorers
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 Afternoons: Mixed Media
2024-01-13 14:30 - 15:30
Be inspired by the mixed media painting Dark Sea, Dark Day, High Tide by Kurt Jackson to create your own mixed media masterpiece.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Arty Afternoons: How do colours make us feel?
2024-01-20 14:30 - 15:30
Colours can sometimes affect how we feel. Compose a warm, cold, happy, or mysterious collage from magazine scraps.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Arty Afternoons: View through a window
2024-01-27 14:30 - 15:30
The new exhibition at Penlee House takes us on a journey through West Cornwall, with beautiful views of different places. Create a mini window and decide which views you would like to see through it.
FREE family activities occur every Saturday; drop in anytime between 2.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Relaxed Opening for February
2024-02-03 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. Tickets will be limited for early entry.
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.
Booking is required; please visit Eventbrite or contact us. Standard admission prices apply.
For more accessibility information, you can view our access guide.
If you have any questions, please contact Zoe.

Arty Afternoons: Start from a Sketch
2024-02-03 14:30 - 15:30
Come and see the new exhibition with artworks by Martina Thomas. Take one of her sketches and decide how you would finish the picture.
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

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.

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: 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.

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.

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

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
