What’s Disappearing from Cornwall? Exhibition Reveals the Impact of Climate Change

A Look at Cornwall’s Changing Landscape

A powerful new exhibition at Penlee House Gallery & Museum in Penzance is putting the focus on how climate change is reshaping Cornwall. The Shape of Things: Our place in a changing climate opened on 5th February and runs until 26th April 2025, showcasing the impact of environmental changes through historic artworks, photographs, and new community-created pieces.

The exhibition, curated with input from local environmental groups such as Sustainable Penzance, the RSPB, Growing Links, Cornwall Climate Care, and Mount’s Bay Marine Group, highlights pressing concerns like rising sea levels, more frequent storms, and the impact on Cornwall’s wildlife, landscapes, and industries.

Community Voices and New Artistic Responses

Alongside the historic paintings and photographs from the Penlee House collections, the exhibition features new works by local community groups, children, and young people. Participants from organisations such as the Women’s Institute and Penlee’s Arts and Health Groups have collaborated with students from Mounts Bay Academy, Humphry Davy School, Penwith College, and four local primary schools to create artwork inspired by Cornwall’s changing environment.

Mounts Bay Academy student Ollie shared his thoughts on the project, saying, “I think this project is very important because it will help inform the local community about this ever-growing problem.” Fellow student Fred added, “Having the artist Ben Cook work with us has been really useful to give us ideas of what we can do. Creating a version of a familiar picture and completely changing how it looks is quite powerful, and a contrast to the perfect world that we all think we know.”

Raising Awareness and Inspiring Change

Lindsay Masters, Careers Lead at Mounts Bay Academy, praised the students’ engagement with the project, saying, “It has been an inspiration to see how our students have engaged with the project and shared their passion for the environment and air quality into an altered art image. They have conveyed their personal thoughts on the current global crisis that is impacting in Penzance now in 2025 to how it was many years ago in the picture-perfect postcard world. Zoe Burkett and Ben Cook have been instrumental in helping our students on their creative journeys and Mounts Bay Academy are very grateful for giving our students this opportunity and creating this important dialogue.”

Zoe Burkett, Learning Officer at Penlee House Gallery & Museum, reflected on the collaborative effort behind the exhibition, stating, “It has been inspirational to see how much work is being done by a wide range of local organisations and individuals, all striving to try and make a difference. In working with our communities to produce new art, one of the loveliest things has been the thoughts, memories, and ideas people have shared. We hope this exhibition will raise awareness, both of the challenges climate change poses but also of the amazing work happening in West Cornwall, as well as encouraging conversations and giving hope.”

Events and How to Get Involved

The exhibition is now open, and a programme of events including climate-themed workshops, talks, film screenings, and children’s activities will run alongside it. More details are available on the Penlee House website and social media channels.

The Shape of Things: Our place in a changing climate is on display at:

Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Morrab Road, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4HE
📍 www.penleehouse.org.uk

The exhibition has been part-funded by Arts Council England and Little Parc Owles Trust and is owned and operated by Penzance Council.