The Falmouth mural that came out of a Marine School evening class

There is a wall in a car park that now looks like the town around it. Painted houses in pink, yellow and teal climb a green hillside, a pier runs out into bright blue water, and small boats sit at anchor. The people who painted it did so in the evenings, after the students had gone home.

A mural of familiar sights

The new mural at Falmouth Marine School celebrates familiar sights and the character of Falmouth. It was created as part of a Community Learning course, developed by lecturer Lottie Woolcock, and brought together local artists.

Lottie is Study Programme Manager for Visual and Performing Arts at Cornwall College. Among those who worked on the mural were student artists Sally Miller, Jane McMullen and Cleo Vaness, along with Nigel Phillips, who is a Learning Support Technician at the school by day.

“It was a great opportunity to learn something new, meet other people and be creative together,” said Nigel. “Being able to create something that reflects Falmouth made it even more special.”

What happens on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings

By day, Falmouth Marine School is a place of learning for students. Every Tuesday and Wednesday evening, it opens its doors to everyone else, with free classes and a space for people of all ages to learn, meet others and share their skills.

Art is one option. Cake decorating and knitting are others. And with the evenings getting darker, the short courses give people a reason to get out of the house and do something they enjoy.

Head of Faculty Dusty Miller sees it as a chance for the college to be part of the community beyond traditional education.

“Opening up our space in the evenings means we can offer something to the whole community,” said Dusty. “Whether someone wants to learn a new skill, meet people, try a hobby or share something they already know, there is an opportunity for them to get involved.”

An evening to celebrate

The mural was marked with an evening of celebration at the school, attended by Rob Bosworth, Principal and CEO of Cornwall College Group.

“It was fantastic to see members of the local community come together and do something creative,” said Rob. “Opening our spaces after college hours gives people the chance to learn, share skills and build connections. We want our colleges to be places that communities feel belong to them.”

Got a skill worth sharing?

The school is also looking for people to teach. Anyone with a skill or hobby they would like to pass on is invited to get in touch and find out how they can use the college space to run their own classes.

Classes can be booked online or by calling 01326 310 310. Current classes and details of how to get involved are on the Falmouth Marine School Community Learning page.

📷Left to right: student artist Sally Miller, CEO and Principal of Cornwall College Group Rob Bosworth, Head of Faculty Dusty Miller, Study Programme Manager for Visual and Performing Arts at Cornwall College Lottie Woolcock, Learning Support Technician Nigel Phillips, and student artists Jane McMullen and Cleo Vaness