Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some FAQs about The Penzance Convention.
Who is organising The Penzance Convention?
The Penzance Convention has been initiated by the independent curator Teresa Gleadowe, convenor of the event with artist Hadrian Pigott, Chair of the Penzance Seafront Forum, and in partnership with Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, Penzance. The Convention producers are Phil Rushworth and Bettina Wenzel. In addition to the organising team, the Steering Group comprises James Green, Director, Blair Todd, Curator and Deputy Director, and Kirsty Lowry, Education Manager at Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, artist Abigail Reynolds, Martin Clark, Artistic Director of Tate St Ives and geologist Dr Robin Shail of Camborne School of Mines.
The Penzance Convention is funded by Arts Council England South West, Outset Contemporary Art and LUMA Foundation, in partnership with Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange and Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, and with additional support and help-in-kind from Plymouth College of Art, University College Falmouth, First Great Western and Kestle Barton.
See About for further information.
Who will attend The Penzance Convention?
The Penzance Convention is aimed especially at artists, curators of contemporary art, writers, arts policy makers, commissioning agencies, producers, researchers, and art students.
Several of the field trips will involve experts from other fields and disciplines.
Some evening events will be open to a wider public.
What does it cost?
The standard Convention fee for an individual is £75. There are a limited number of early bird tickets at £50 and Turning Point South West is providing a small number of free bursary places for visual arts practitioners living in the South West region.
See Booking for further details.
What is included in the Convention fee?
The Convention fee covers:
Thursday 17 May: keynote by Iain Boal
Friday 18 May: all-day participation in one of the seven field trips, transport to St Ives for evening private view of Alex Katz exhibition at Tate St Ives and return transport to Penzance.
Saturday 19 May: all-day conference session
Sunday 20 May: conference session (morning only)
Evening events to be announced
Hospitality will include:
Friday 18 May: early supper at Penwith College
Saturday 19 May: light lunch
On Friday 18 May field trips will include lunch stops at cafes or pubs for delegates to buy their own lunches. Where this is not possible packed lunches will be provided.
Please note: accommodation and travel are not included in the Convention fee.
Can I buy a day ticket for The Penzance Convention?
There is only one ticket for The Penzance Convention. The Convention fee covers the keynote speech on Thursday 17 May, a field trip on Friday 18 May, the conference on Saturday 19 May and on the morning of Sunday 20 May.
What equipment do I need to bring for the field trips?
Most field trips will involve substantial walking, some including cliff paths and uneven terrain. Two of the field trips will involve accessing mine shafts via ladders and one involves a twelve mile coast-to-coast walk. Delegates on these field trips need to be physically fit. The Extracting Creativity workshop does not involve walking.
Appropriate clothing is likely to include: warm layers, waterproofs and walking shoes or boots. The weather in May is unpredictable, but we hope for some sun, in which case you will need sun protection. Some field trips will involve more walking than others, but all will include time spent out of doors. We shall provide advance information on modes of travel for each field trip.
How do I choose a field trip?
Once bookings are completed we shall write to all delegates with further detail about all the field trips and ask you to register your preferences, telling us of any special research interests to which they may relate. We cannot guarantee to match first choices in every case, but we are confident that all the field trips will be great.
How do I get to Penzance?
The simplest way to travel to Penzance is by train, directly on the main line, but there are also flights to Newquay.
For further details see Travel.
Will I need a car to get around?
You should not need a car if you are staying in Penzance.
The conference venues and places of interest, as well as a good range of places to eat, are within walking distance.
On Friday 18 May return transport will be provided from Penzance for all field trips.
Maps will be provided in conference packs.
Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any specific access questions.