Home Is Where The Art Is - Cornwall

Gool Peran Lowen! Today is St. Piran’s Day, celebrated on the 5th March every year and honouring St Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall, with parades, concerts, and eating lots of local delicacies. Communications Account Executive Eve Myer writes their Home Is Where The Art Is post celebrating all things art and culture in Cornwall.

In this series, the team at Mobius let you in on all their favourite arts venues and regular haunts from their hometowns around the UK. Check out our other entries in this series from:

• Beatrice Updegraff (Hanoi)

• Annabelle Mastin-Lee & Juliet Barry (South West)

• Emma Berge (London)

• Anne Dillow (Yorkshire)

• Elaine Jones (Wrexham)

• George Rennie (Brighton)

• Frank (Carlisle)

• Alastair Norton (Wolverhampton)

• Flavia Fraser-Cannon(Waterloo)

Cornwall is much more than incredible beaches, saffron buns, pasties and clotted cream on top of your scones (although these are great things!). It is a people with its own language, flag, music, traditions, and culture. Last year Cornwall Council launched a survey looking into what makes Cornwall so unique, aiming to preserve the Cornish cultural heritage. Ultimately for me, the beauty of Cornwall is in its community, its folklore, its raw natural vibrancy and continued encouragement to connect to culture.

1. Tell us about your favourite local arts venues when you were growing up?

I was born in the small village of Tregony and though I have very few memories of my time there I have seen the many family home videos of my parents performing in the local pantomime at Tregony Clockhouse - pantomimes I do remember eating a Cornetto at. Having video evidence of your father dressed as a monk and your mum wearing a tinsel wig really is a delight!

One of my other favourite childhood memories in Cornwall includes watching Knee High’s adaptation of The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips in their Asylum tent and just being absolutely absorbed by the storytelling, the puppetry and incredible music. Knee High are obviously a nationally known company but getting to experience their personal brand of chaotic joy on their home turf felt like magic.

2. What about your favourite local culture spots now?

As someone who now lives in London but always grew up with access to the sea, this is one of the best things about my beloved Kernow. What better activity is there than travelling to the coast and letting your cobwebs be blown away by the Cornish sea air! And on that note one of my favourite places to visit in Cornwall is the Minnack Theatre, perched on the cliffs overlooking Porthcurno Bay, this is the perfect spot for a concert, play, or visit to the cafe, all whilst enjoying the breathtaking views. 

Cornwall has such a rich history with so many sites worth exploring, like the Bronze Age Merry Maidens Stone Circle and the Iron Age Carn Euny Ancient Village. There are also so many mythological or folklore inspired spots, if you love some literature inspiring spots I also recommend visiting St Senara’s Church that features in the Mermaid of Zennor.

Other favourite spots of mine include the Eden Project, Tintagel Castle (make sure to walk down to Merlin’s Cave), and the Newlyn Filmhouse (who have a great “no crunching, and no rustling!” cinema snack policy).

3. And any other local recommendations?

I am a fiend for a good coffee shop / bakery and Cornwall has some of my absolute favourites. If I could only visit a few I’d suggest you check out The Origin Roastery in Porthleven, Loafs in Penzance, Yallah Coffee in St Ives, and Beacon Coffee in Falmouth. And whilst I’m in Falmouth I would head to one of my fave food locations - Habanero’s Burritos. Then I would carry my wrapped, warm delight and eat it sitting in Beerwolf Books drinking the largest pint of ginger beer known to man. “It comes in pints!” I hear you exclaim and to that I respond, “Yes, dear friend. It’s also on tap!”

There are too many beautiful beaches in Cornwall to pick just one to see but Penzance also boasts what is, in my opinion, one of the best Lido’s. So on my perfect day I would top up my saltwater exposure and treat myself to a swim (and maybe a Sauna visit) at the Jubilee Pool.

Another one of the charms of Cornwall is its independent businesses and a few of my favourites include Marigold Moth, The Edge of The World Bookshop, Far Land Records, and Newlyn’s Fermentary.

At any time of year you can stumble into so many gems by just exploring the winding streets of Cornwall.

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