Building on the legacy of The Falmouth Convention, The Penzance Convention is a three-day conference in expanded form. It will reflect on the theme of extraction, with reference both to the social and environmental narratives of Cornwall’s extractive industries – mining and fishing in particular – and to the processes by which artists draw meaning from history and site.

Social historian Iain Boal will give the keynote, ‘Drawn from Nature: Extraction, Commodity and Commons’, comparing Cornwall and the northern California littoral as zones of extraction. He will trace the legacies - environmental and social - of mining and fishing considered as industries tied into a globalised market, by drawing out the paradoxes of depletion and sustainability, of tourism and the heritage industry, of regional autonomy and centralised subsidy, of lived reality and the mythos of the far West.

Field trips will include visits to mine workings ancient and contemporary guided by scientists from Camborne School of Mines, an exploration of the fishing industry at Newlyn, a survey of agriculture and food production past and present led by FIELDCLUB, a coast-to-coast walk with artist Billy Wynter and historian Jon Brookes, and a creative workshop with artist Andrew Lanyon.

The Convention convenors are independent curator Teresa Gleadowe and artist Hadrian Pigott, Chair of the Penzance Seafront Forum, in partnership with Newlyn Art Gallery and the Exchange Penzance and Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter. The Convention producers are Phil Rushworth and Bettina Wenzel.

The Penzance Convention is funded by Arts Council England South West, Outset Contemporary Art and LUMA Foundation, in partnership with Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange and with additional support and help-in-kind from Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry; FEAST; First Great Western; Kestle Barton; Plymouth College of Art; Plymouth Visual Arts Consortium; Polish Cultural Institute; Tate St Ives; Two; and University College Falmouth.

The Penzance Convention website is now live, with information about programme, field trips and contributors, answers to frequently asked questions and details of accommodation in Penzance: http://www.thepenzanceconvention.com

Further information will be added as it is confirmed.  

For details of The Falmouth Convention in May 2010 see: http://www.thefalmouthconvention.com

Summary of programme

Thursday 17 May, 7pm, Methodist Chapel, Penzance: Keynote by Iain Boal, "Drawn from Nature: Extraction, Commodity, and Commons"

Friday 18 May, all day: field trips

Saturday 19 May, all day: Convention at the Exchange, Penzance

Sunday 20 May, morning only: Convention at the Exchange, Penzance

Full details to be announced

Ticket price includes supper on Friday, buffet lunch on Saturday, coach travel between Penzance and St Ives to attend the Alex Katz private view at Tate St Ives on Friday, and other hospitality and events to be announced.

Early bird ticket sales finish at midnight on Saturday 28 April, after which all tickets will be sold at full price (individual tickets £75, institutional tickets £130).

Enquiries to: info@thepenzanceconvention.com