PRESS RELEASE | 28.05.18 | For immediate use

Share Your Memories and Get Involved

with our Pop Up Animated Archive

St Ives September Festival | 8^th to 22^nd September 2018

Image | St Ives School of Painting studio, circa 1970s

During this year's September Festival, from Saturday 8^th to Saturday 22^nd September, the St Ives School of Painting will be presenting a special Pop Up Animated Archive as part of their ongoing series of 80^th Anniversary events.

The archive will be open to all throughout Festival fortnight, at Studio 5 above Penwith Gallery on Back Road West, and will include a fascinating collection of photography, documents, items and audio which illustrate what it was like to live and work in St Ives in 1938, the year the School of Painting was founded. Created from the School's own archive, along with that of the St Ives Archive and Memory Bay Project, and images and items kindly lent by members of the public, the Studio 5 display will give insight into the lives of resident artists and the St Ives community in the year before the outbreak of World War II.

The public are being invited to contribute their own or shared family memories of the St Ives School of Painting from the last 80 years by completing  ‘Memory Cards' which are available throughout St Ives in the run up to the archive event, or by emailing info@schoolofpainting.co.uk. You can also get involved each afternoon, and help resident artists create an animated timeline of the last 80 years. You can contribute your own memories of St Ives and bring along images, diary entries, cinema tickets, or anything you think will help tell the story of the past eight decades. There is no need to book, just come along and be part of history. Do you have a memory of the St Ives School of Painting you think should be captured, shared and not forgotten? The School are hoping to go as far back in time as possible, so if you or someone you know attended classes, or was somehow involved, the school would love to hear from you. With your permission, your memories will be shared on the School's Facebook page, and displayed as part of the Pop Up Animated Archive from 8^th to 22^nd September 2018.

There will also be a series of half and one day painting workshops throught festival fortnight, all inspired by the work of St Ives' most famous artists. Drop-ins are welcome but spaces are limited so prebooking is advisable.

To find out more or get involved, contact St Ives School of Painting, Porthmeor Studios, Back Road West, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1NG | info@schoolofpainting.co.uk | Tel:  01736 797180 |www.schoolofpainting.co.uk

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Studio circa 1970s

Studio circa 1950s 

Back Road West St Ives circa 1930s

80th Year re-staged archive photo poster 

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. In 2000 it became a registered charity. 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 Rotary International, Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council.