The Land's End peninsula has been attracting artists, musicians and writers since the early 20thC, and there is no shortage of galleries and musical events. Among the best known galleries are the Tate St. Ives and the nearby Barbara Hepworth Museum. In the small town of St. Just there are seven art galleries, and the Penlee Gallery in Penzance and the Newlyn Gallery are well worth a visit. The Penlee gallery houses many fine paintings of the Newlyn School.

For theatre, the unique Minack clifftop amphitheatre is an unforgettable experience on a summer night, and the Acorn Theatre in Penzance mounts a variety of theatrical and musical productions, in the Acorn itself and in the open air theatre in Penlee gardens. In some years, the recently revived Cornish mediaeval mystery play cycle, The Ordinalia, is performed in the open air in St. Just, featuring 100 actors and musicians.

Theatre:

Minack Theatre Porthcurno TR19 6JU (01736) 810181 Season: Mid May - Mid Sep, daily, excl. Sat & Sun Details online in November Visitor centre open Apr to Sep, 0930 - 0530, Oct - Mar - 1000 to 0400 Web Link Unique cliffside amphitheatre in a stunning setting, attracting an audience of 76,000 per season. The Visitors' Centre can be visited all the year round.

Acorn Theatre Parade Street Penzance TR18 4BU (01736) 365520 Season: all year Web Link Programmes feature theatre, music, dance, spoken word and community presentations. Also runs the Penlee Open Air Theatre.

Penlee Open Air Theatre Morrab Road Penzance TR18 4HE (01736) 365520 Season: July to Septemberr Web Link Summer productions.

Art Galleries:

 

Tate St. Ives Porthmeor Beach St Ives TR26 1TG (01736) 796226 Open: Mar - Oct, daily 1000 - 1730; Nov - Feb, Tue - Sun 1000 - 1630 Closed 26 Jan - 6 Feb, 2004 Web Link See the web site for current exhibitions. See also the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden Barnoon Hill St. Ives TR26 1AD (01736) 796226 Open: Nov - Feb, Tue - Sun 1300 - 1630 or dusk, whichever is earlier Mar - Oct, daily 1000 - 1.30 Web Link

Barbara Hepworth's studio and garden are now part of the Tate St Ives. The sculptress asked in her will that Trewyn Studios and the adjacent garden, with a group of her sculptures, be permanently open to the public. For visitors viewing both the Hepworth gardens and the Tate St. Ives, there is a special ticket arrangement.

Penlee Gallery and Museum Penlee House Gallery and Museum Morrab Road Penzance TR18 4HE (01736) 363625 Open:: May - Sep, Mon - Sat, 1000 - 1700, Oct - Apr, Mon - Sat, 1030 - 1630. Open Bank Holidays ex. Christmas and NY Web Link A selected number of museum exhibits illustrating life in West Cornwall from 1600 to the present day, and a superb fine art gallery dedicated to the Newlyn School of art.

Newlyn Art Gallery New Road, Newlyn TR18 5PZ (01736) 363715 Open: Mon - Sat 1000 - 1700 including Bank Holidays Closed 24,25,26 December and 1 January Closed between exhibitions Contemporary art. Web Link

Rainyday Gallery 116 Market Jew Street Penzance TR18 2LD ( 01736) 366077 Web Link Regular exhibitions featuring the best of local artists.

As well as the listings above, there are many independent small art galleries and studios throughout the area, featuring the work of local artists.

Festivals and events:

West Penwith hosts a large number of traditional and community events over the summer, the following is a selection of the most popular events:

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