Cultural venues

Cultural Venues

Cornwall has long attracted creative people, and its artistic heritage is matched by a lively mix of contemporary culture. Among the county's world-class cultural venues are:

Tate St Ives
One of the world's most spectacularly sited art galleries, Tate St Ives has a superb collection of modern and contemporary art on display, much of it created by artists who have drawn inspiration from Cornwall's natural beauty. As well as mounting regular shows by leading national and international artists, Tate St Ives runs a full programme of educational activities and family-oriented events.

The Eden Project
Aptly described as 'the eighth wonder of the world', the Eden Project marries creative vision with technological genius. Inside huge 'biomes', visitors can explore faithfully recreated natural environments, including a tropical rainforest complete with rivers and waterfalls. Much more than an internationally famous tourist destination, Eden nurtures an extensive collection of rare plant species and is a unique educational resource for an ecologically threatened world. It also provides a spectacular venue for a wide variety of musical and dramatic performances.

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Housed in an award-winning building on Falmouth's waterfront, this museum celebrates mankind's long and dramatic relationship with the sea. As well as a large collection of some of the world's most remarkable small boats - from dug-out canoes to high-tech racing yachts - it features an exciting range of audio-visual displays and hands-on activities that bring the challenges of seafaring vividly to life.

Hall for Cornwall, Truro
With 980 seats, Cornwall's largest indoor performance space facilitates a highly varied programme that is united by two main themes: excellence and popularity. Recent performers have included the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Moscow Ballet, the Beijing Opera, the English National Opera, Coldplay and Van Morrison. The Hall for Cornwall also provides a showcase for some of Cornwall's home-grown talent, such as the nationally acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre Company.

The Minack Theatre
Sited in the open air on the cliffs at Porthcurno near Lands End, with the sea as its backdrop, The Minack hosts a 17-week season of plays and musicals by visiting theatre companies from all over the world from May to September.

For more information please visit the Cornwall tourist board website.