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18.01.17 | For immediate use

Porthmeor Programme Year-End Exhibition

Crypt Gallery 11 - 17 March | Penwith Gallery 11 - 24 March

Image: St Ives School of Painting | Porthmeor Programme

Marking the culmination of the St Ives School of Painting's annual Porthmeor Programme, Saturday 11th March sees the opening of its celebratory end of year exhibition, on show at St Ives' Penwith and Crypt Galleries. Showcasing the work of 18students, this exhibition of paintings, drawings and prints demonstrates the unique talent of course participants, and the quality of teaching offered by course leaders and professional artists Kerry Harding and Liz Hough.

Now in its third year, the Porthmeor Programme is a structured one year programme of weekend classes which offer participants the chance to expand their personal practice with supported studio sessions, and benefit from one-to-one tutorials and group discussions.

Suitable for early stage artists and those with more experience, the course begins in March with an intensive 3 days of study, followed by 8 monthly tutored weekends in the historic location of St Ives' Porthmeor Studios. With a maximum of only 18 students, divided into two parallel study groups, this unique programme offers quality one-to-one teaching with lead tutors and selected guest artists, who have so far included Ashley Hold, Ilker Cinarel, Alexa de Ferranti, Mary Crockett, Naomi Frears, Greg Humphries, Peter Skerrett and Marion Taylor, and has a practical focus, ranging from the development of new skills and techniques to the exploration of creative ideas and motivations.

The Porthmeor Programme costs £2,100 including all tuition, materials, final group exhibition and access to free life-drawing classes throughout the course. Both local and out of county participants are welcome and a bursary is also available for degree or masters level arts students who have graduated within the last five years, including financial help towards travel and accommodation. For out of county applicants, various weekend accommodation options are available in St Ives and those travelling from London can take advantage of the Friday sleeper train service from Paddington at a cost of £60 one way.

Applications for the next programme, beginning March 2018, are now being invited. Apply at 01736 797180 orinfo@schoolofpainting.co.uk. Participants will be selected based on their desire to develop and on how much they will benefit from joining the programme. Applications close 30 November 2017.

St Ives School of Painting, Porthmeor Studios, Back Road West, St Ives. Cornwall. TR26 1NG | 01736 797180

www.schoolofpainting.co.uk |info@schoolofpainting.co.uk
 

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 Porthmeor Programme group
 
 

Editors Notes 

St Ives School of Painting

Situated on St Ives' spectacular Porthmeor Beach, the Grade II listed Porthmeor Studios building has been an inspiring workspace for artists for over a century. Today, the St Ives School of Painting operates out of two of the building's studios. The remaining studios are rented out to local and national artists while the Tate Gallery has historically run a residency programme in Studio 5. Meanwhile, twelve boats continue to work out of the fishermen's cellars beneath the studios.

From the late 19^thcentury onwards, Porthmeor Studios became an inspiring workplace and exhibition space for internationally acclaimed artists, including some of the big names of 20th Century British painting, such as Julius Olsson, Ben Nicholson, Francis Bacon, Patrick Heron and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham. Today their paint marks still decorate the studio walls where important pieces of work were created. The St Ives School of Painting has been running art classes in Porthmeor Studios since 1938. Class sizes are limited and tutors are all practising artists with many years teaching experience. The school provides quality tuition across a variety of artistic disciplines, suitable for all levels from complete beginners to those with more experience.

In 2010, The Borlase Smart John Wells Trust headed a £4 million renovation, supported with public funding by Arts Council England, to renovate and refurbish the building. Overseen by award-winning architects Long & Kentish, the sensitive renovations of the Grade II listed building have ensured that the features of its important heritage are not lost, while providing a facelift which enables the unique complex to move into the future as a successful and functioning workplace for both the artists and the fishermen.

St Ives School of Painting and the St Ives Art School are trading names of names of St Ives Art School, company no 7871063 registered in England, a company limited by guarantee, registered charity no 1146825. Registered office: St Ives School of Painting, Porthmeor Studios, Back Road West, St Ives. Cornwall. TR26 1NG |01736 797180| www.schoolofpainting.co.uk |info@schoolofpainting.co.uk.

Supported by the Regional Ideas Organisation, Rotary International, Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council.