The Shape of Things: Our Place in a Changing Climate

We are delighted to be part of The Shape of Things: Our Place in a Changing Climate, a community-curated exhibition at Penlee House Gallery & Museum, running from 5 February to 26 April 2025. This thought-provoking exhibition explores the impact of climate change in Cornwall, drawing on historic artworks and photographs from the Penlee House collection alongside newly commissioned works.

Exploring Climate Change Through Creativity

As part of the exhibition, children from Alverton School explored St Michael’s Mount, met the island residents and worked with our Education Officer and Hugh St Aubyn to investigate one of the most frequently asked questions: “How do islanders get their shopping to the Mount?”

Looking at this question through the lens of climate change, the children developed imaginative, forward-thinking solutions—including an idea to enclose the causeway in a glass tunnel to protect it from rising sea levels and extreme weather. Their work will be showcased as part of the exhibition, highlighting young people’s creative responses to environmental challenges.

To complement these ideas, Lord St Levan selected ‘There is Music in the Night’, a striking seascape by Frank Gascoigne Heath, to be displayed alongside the children’s work. This newly acquired painting is being exhibited at Penlee House for the first time.

Contributions from Local Environmental Groups

The exhibition also features selections made by local environmental organisations, including Sustainable Penzance, the RSPB, Growing Links – Street Food Project, Cornwall Climate Care, and Mounts Bay Marine Group. Their chosen works highlight rising sea levels, more frequent storms, ocean warming and the impact these environmental changes have on Cornwall’s wildlife, communities and industries such as fishing, farming and tourism.

A Collaboration Between Art and Environmental Awareness

Alongside the historic paintings and photographs, new artworks have been created for the exhibition by local community groups, schools, and young people. Groups such as the Women’s Institute, Penlee’s Arts and Health Groups, students from Mounts Bay Academy, Humphry Davy School, Truro & Penwith College and four local primary schools have collaborated with local artists and environmental groups to produce contemporary creative responses to the images from Penlee House’s collection.

This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see how art, history and environmental awareness come together to inspire conversations about our changing world.

Exhibition Details

📅 Dates: 5 February – 26 April 2025

📍 Location: Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance

Photo: Left to right; Katie Smith, Assistant Education Officer at Penlee House & Gallery, Kerry Rice, Education Officer at St Aubyn Estates, Hugh St Aubyn, Sustainability Consultant and the children of Alverton School.