BENOW Festival 2026 to Celebrate Women in Words at Falmouth Art Gallery

Storytelling Festival Celebrating Women Returns to Falmouth

A two day festival celebrating the culture of women through storytelling and writing is set to take place in Falmouth later this month.

The BENOW Festival 2026, hosted at Falmouth Art Gallery, will run on Friday 20th March and Saturday 21st March, bringing together workshops, performances and creative sessions.

This year’s theme, Women in Words, focuses on the role of storytelling and writing in sharing perspectives and experiences. The event is open to people of all genders and backgrounds and aims to create a welcoming space for anyone interested in stories, creativity and Cornwall’s literary culture.

A Festival Focused on Storytelling

Across the two days, visitors can take part in workshops, watch performances and explore events centred around writing, spoken word and film.

According to Willow Collins, Learning Assistant at Falmouth Art Gallery, the event aims to highlight the impact of women’s voices in storytelling.

“BENOW is a celebration of women’s stories and perspectives, offering a unique platform to amplify voices that have long shaped our culture and continue to inspire future generations. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned storyteller, there’s something here for everyone to explore and enjoy.”

The festival programme includes a range of activities such as creative writing workshops, storytelling performances and a foyer fayre featuring charities and groups connected with reading and writing.

Cornish Language Film and Workshop

The festival begins on Friday 20th March, with a reception and film screening connected to the Cornish language short film Gocki Lorden, created by artist and filmmaker Bunny Ladd.

The event starts with a reception and drinks from 5pm to 6pm in the Council Chamber. This will be followed by a screening of the film in the gallery and a short talk.

The film follows the story of Gocki the clown, once the favourite clown to King Arthur, who becomes disgraced and cast out of Tintagel into a North Cornwall winter. According to the description, Gocki turns to sin eating to raise enough money to return home.

Following the screening, a Fairytale Postcard Community Story Workshop will take place from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, where participants can create a postcard sized collage representing their own village or an imagined community.

Workshops and Performances on Saturday

Events continue on Saturday 21st March with a full day of creative sessions and activities.

A Making New Myths creative writing workshop will run from 10am to 11.30am, led by writer and facilitator Sophie Burton. The session invites participants to turn their experiences into mythical poems exploring womanhood.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, a Youth Writers drop in will be held in the gallery between 10am and 2pm, encouraging young writers to create descriptions, drawings and poems inspired by portraits in the collection.

From 12pm to 1.30pm, Kath Morgan from The Writing Retreat will lead a workshop titled Finding Your Voice Through the Personal Essay, exploring how the form has enabled women to express their voices.

Folklore, Puppetry and Storytelling

Visitors will also be able to see a marionette storytelling performance during the day.

Between 12pm and 3pm, MAZED Tales will perform stories connected with Cornish writer Nellie Sloggett, also known as Enys Tregarthen, with the marionette appearing around the building.

The foyer will also host a Foyer Fayre from 12pm to 4pm, where charities and organisations connected with books and storytelling will be present. Gail Owen, Creative Writing Teacher at Cornwall College, will also run a pop up stall where visitors can learn about creative writing courses.

Later in the afternoon, storyteller Siân Powell, host of the Celtic Myths and Legends Podcast, will lead a workshop titled Exploring Cornish Folklore – Creative Writing in Response to the Landscape from 2pm to 3.30pm.

The festival concludes with a live reading of Skeleton Woman at 4pm, performed by storyteller Kate Coleman at Falmouth Library. The Inuit tale of transformation and healing will be followed by a guided story workshop.

How to Find Out More

BENOW Festival takes place at Falmouth Art Gallery, organised by Falmouth Town Council, with events spread across the gallery, council chamber, foyer and library.

More details about the festival programme and tickets are available on the Falmouth Art Gallery website.