Tuesday–Saturday: 10am–4pm
Sunday–Monday: closed
At the very heart of Cornwall and its cultural life, the museum is a centre of exploration and learning. Using the eclectic collections of Cornish culture, art, antiquities, archaeology, science, and natural history we take people on a journey from deep underground to up into the sky, around the world and way back in time. In doing this, we use our collections to help our communities look forward together.
Watercolour Journeys into Wild Places
14 Aug - 24 Dec 2021
A major exhibition of watercolours by renowned artist Tony Foster that illustrate the precariousness of wilderness and endangered environments around the world.
7 September - 7 November
Portrait photography by Gavan Goulder of those involved in protests over the lack of action taken by leaders and government to address the climate emergency.
14 Aug -
24 Dec 2021
A display of community responses to our collection with a focus on climate change and the impact humans are having on the planet.
16 November - 31 March 2022
The development of our great little city illustrated through the museum’s collection of art, historic photographs and objects to inspire stories and memories of the people that live and work here.
Fragile Planet is a major exhibition of watercolours by renowned artist Tony Foster that illustrate the precariousness of wilderness and endangered environments around the world. Sadly, some of the amazing places Tony has been to and painted during his career are no longer there – or have been dramatically altered by the effects of climate change and human intervention.
Fragile Planet focuses on five environments chosen by Tony Foster; Rainforests, Water, Arctic, Deserts, and Cornwall – with information about each theme accompanying a set of Foster’s breathtaking watercolours. The show also highlights the positive action being taken to address climate change by many small charities across the globe. Visitors are then encouraged to reflect on what they can pledge to do differently to help tackle climate change.
For nearly 40 years, watercolour artist Tony Foster has painted in some of the world’s most dramatic natural environments including the Grand Canyon, the Atacama Desert, the Arctic, underwater in the Maldives, 18,000 feet up in the Himalayas, in rainforests, and amongst volcanoes. Foster is the only artist ever to have made large-scale paintings on-site of all three faces of Everest. In more recent times due to COVID-19, Foster has homed in on the marshes, woodlands and reclaimed industrial landscapes of Cornwall, where he lives and works.
Environmental concerns have always been at the core of Foster’s practice: since he first set off from Cornwall to the US in 1983. He has exhibited extensively across the US, and The Foster in Palo Alto, California was founded to promote his life’s work in relation to the natural world.
This exhibition is generously supported by The Foster Palo Alto, California.
14 Aug -
24 Dec 2021
4 October -
Mid 2022
Our new exhibition, in partnership with Spaceport Cornwall, all about Cornwall’s past, present and future roles in space travel.
The Courtney Library and Archive is a unique and long-established Cornish history research centre that holds some of the most significant collections of Cornish manuscripts anywhere in the world.
Find out more
Until 13th November 2021
Everyone is an artist! Take part in an extravaganza of drawing that includes an exhibition of original works and prints by Old Masters.
On-going Basis
Drop in Drawing in the chapel gallery and help us create a climate flag. Free ongoing basis - unfacilitated drawing.
Thu 2nd Dec, 12:30pm
