HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great trails ... 2 Cultural Cornwall Immerse yourself in the high standard of fine art, crafts, and performance art for which the St Ives area is renowned What is it that makes creative types flock to Cornwall in search of inspiration and the artistic muse? Whatever combination of sun, sea, landscape and light it is that seduces them here, it has attracted more accomplished artists to the area than anywhere else in Britain. St Ives in particular has an international reputation as a centre of art, with its array of delightful galleries, including the flagship Tate Gallery, and its annual September Festival of Music and the Arts. So, follow our suggestions here for a taste of the very best of culture in Cornwall. GALLERIES IN ST IVES Painters first arrived in Cornwall during the late 19th century, when young British artists of the day copied the French-inspired style of painting outside, in the clear light of the colourful fishing harbours. But it wasn’t until the work of modernist painters such as Patrick Heron and Sir Terry Frost, and the sculptures of Barbara Hepworth, that St Ives shot to prominence on the European art scene. Here are some of our favourites among Cornwall’s many galleries. Start at Bedford Road in St Ives. 1. THE BOOK GALLERY This secondhand bookshop has top-quality, modern first editions, literature and fine art on display. It focuses on the art colonies of West Cornwall and carries a stock of manuscripts, catalogues, drawings, correspondence and artefacts. 2. THE NEW MILLENNIUM GALLERY An elegant three-storey gallery opposite the Guildhall and Tourist Information Centre, it provides three large exhibition spaces and has earned a reputation for showing contemporary painting and ceramics. This one’s especially for those with a taste for the weird and wonderful: a number of works on display are abstract and figurative. 3. BARBARA HEPWORTH MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN Barbara Hepworth came to St Ives in 1939 and played a pivotal role in its rise to international acclaim in the art world. After her death in 1975, her will outlined a request to establish a permanent exhibition of her sculptures in the studio and gardens in which she worked. 4. BELGRAVE GALLERY This St Ives branch of London’s Belgrave Gallery features works from the major contributors to the Modern Movement which St Ives headed up between the ’40s and ’60s. All the big names are here, including Barbara Hepworth and Peter Lanyon, plus the work of today’s artists including John Charles Clark and Michael Finn. 5. THE NEW CRAFTSMAN Opened in the mid ’60s by Janet Leach, this gallery exhibits contemporary British art. Pottery is a speciality, but there is also jewellery, wood, glass, metalwork, weaving, prints and drawings. 6. THE GOLDFISH BOWL This is a new gallery, run by artist Joseph Clarke, with a focus on the figurative work as brought about by painters, ceramicists, sculptors and jewellers from Cornwall and elsewhere. 7. THE TATE ST IVES This gallery’s inspirational building is a true showcase for modern art. It stands above Porthmeor Beach and features exhibits selected from the London Tate’s collection of 300-or-so works produced by the modern St Ives School of painters. The gallery has a rooftop restaurant and the cost of admission will also gain you access to the jointly-administered Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Future exhibitions (until 13 October) will include works by Richard Long, Naum Gabo, and Kosho Ito. PERFORMANCE ART When you’ve fully enjoyed St Ives, visit Porthcurno and one of the most famous outdoor theatres in the UK. Here, you could take in a play or an afternoon cup of coffee. 8. the Minack Theatre The word ‘Minack’ in Cornish means ‘a rocky place’, and this open-air theatre is indeed hewn from the granite cliffs above Porthcurno Bay. Since ‘The Tempest’ was first produced here, in 1932, Shakespeare’s plays have been the mainstay of every summer season. The season lasts for up to 17 weeks. This year, the Minack’s 750-seat auditorium has hosted The Tempest, the Pirates of Penzance, and the Wind in the Willows. At other times, theatre ticket prices range from £5.50 - £7 for adults, and half price for under 16s. Rowena Cade built the Minack in 1929 and the visitor centre (with coffee shop) named after her is open throughout the year. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT TRAILS   Ulster way walk  Art for art's sake  Smugglers' walks  BACK TO ARCHIVE PLANNING  Time all day, ending with a visit to the Minack Theatre Suitable for those with a cultured taste for the arts. ATTRACTIONS The Book Gallery Tel 01736 793545 The New Millennium Gallery Tel 01736 793121 Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden Tel 01736 796226 Belgrave Gallery Tel 01736 794888 New Craftsman Tel 01736 795652 Goldfish Bowl Tel 01736 793684 Tate St Ives Tel 01736 796226 The Minack Theatre Tel 01736 810181 EVENTS IN THE AREA October St Just Feast Weekend - various activities. For further information phone Elaine George on 01736 788412. November/ December Late night shopping in Penzance and St Ives. December 2002 Mousehole Christmas Lights are switched on from December until early January. For more information tel 01736 362431. New Year's Eve Join the party around St Ives harbour in your fancy dress. HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Motorhome Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.