What happens when Falmouth Art Gallery hands artists the keys

An owl creature built from digital scans and local stories. More than 100 works by women from across Cornwall. Clay, kayaks and the sound of salt-worn objects slowly breaking down.

For the next four months, what fills the walls at Falmouth Art Gallery is in the hands of five Cornwall-based artists and collectives.

The new Artist Takeover programme runs until 6 February 2027, turning the Gallery over to exhibitions, live performance, experimentation and audience participation.

It grew out of an open call, which invited both emerging and established artists based in Cornwall to pitch a new event, exhibition or experimental project they wanted to develop or test in a public space. The Gallery says the projects it picked reflect its ambition to support creativity and innovation, and to build new connections between artists, audiences and the Gallery itself.

Seven performances, seven minutes each

The takeover opened on Friday 2 October with 7 Small Acts, an evening of live performance from Small Acts inspired by the Gallery’s own collection.

Seven artists each picked an artwork from the collection and responded to it in an original seven-minute performance. Between them they covered live art, drag, spoken word, puppetry, sound art and dance.

The line-up was Chloé Eathorne, Rachel Elizabeth Coleman, Ruby Lawrence, Sam Bradbury, Scamp Niemz x Dark Fibre, and the founders of Small Acts, Katie Etheridge and Simon Persighetti.

Since then, four artists and collectives are taking over the exhibition space in turn.

On now: Cornish Maids

10 to 31 October 2026

Fran Rowse’s Cornish Maids brings together more than 100 works made by women in Cornwall, all gathered through an open call.

The exhibition celebrates women artists and their creativity, with a wide range of practices, voices and perspectives on show. Its preview on Saturday 10 October came with a DJ, plus the chance to get piercings, tooth gems and temporary tattoos.

November: Myths of the Owl Creature

7 to 28 November 2026

Next up, artists Tom Milnes and Jess Pemberton, working together as Mawnan Research Mafia, will turn the Gallery into an evolving digital environment built around the Myths of the Owl Creature.

Interactive installation, projection, sound and 3D scanning will sit alongside artworks from the Gallery’s collection. Visitors become part of it too, so the experience keeps changing over the month.

Workshops and events will invite people to add to the developing work, exploring digital technology, local stories and speculative world-building.

December into January: And The Earth Becomes A Ball

5 December 2026 to 9 January 2027

Charlie Duck’s group exhibition looks at how and why we work with clay.

It steps away from clay’s long history as a functional, everyday material. Instead, the show brings together moving image, painting, sculpture and installation.

January to February: Timescapes

16 January to 6 February 2027

The final takeover comes from visual artist Oona Wiggan and sound artist Justin Wiggan, who turn their attention to the sea, the landscape and the passage of time.

Their starting point was weathered marine objects found while kayaking around Falmouth. From the accidental patterns left by decay, colour, salt and sunlight, they have made photography and sound works.

Using sound, photography and biosonification, Timescapes asks visitors to look and listen differently, finding beauty in decay and thinking about how the landscapes around us are changing.

Planning a visit

Admission to Falmouth Art Gallery is free, although some events may be ticketed.

The exhibition spaces will close to the public while each new show is being installed. Visitors can still see the Collections Display and watch the Artist Takeover film during those changeovers.

Donna Westlake, Exhibitions Manager at Falmouth Art Gallery, said: “We are really excited to hand over our exhibition space to the artists and see what they do. The Artist Takeover gives artists the freedom to experiment, take risks and try something new, while giving visitors the chance to experience the Gallery in completely different ways. There’s a fantastic range of ideas across the programme, and something for everyone to discover.”

📷Artist Takeover collage. 7 Small Acts photograph credit: Lottie Matthews. Cornish Maids: Fran Rowse. Myths of the Owl Creature: Mawnan Research Mafia. And The Earth Becomes A Ball: Charlie Duck. Timescapes: Justin & Oona Wiggan