St Just in Penwith: Dark Skies, Wild Seas, Ancient Places
5pm Weds 22nd to 3pm Saturday 25th October 2025
A fantastic opportunity to spend time with like-minded people in the fascinating location of St Just in Penwith, Cornwall, nestled within the UK's most Westerly peninsular. This fascinating arts-science-heritage opportunity is curated to inspire art practitioners, researchers and thinkers alike.
About the Residency
We base ourselves at the Old Town Hall in St Just; Britain’s most westerly town and former centre of mining in West Penwith which sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, where the waves crash into the granite cliffs. This residency offers an immersive experience with a wealth of creative inspiration, space to make work and also for walking, talking and spending time with like-minded people.We welcome all art forms with lots of opportunity for site-specific working.
St Just is extraordinary in its’ location, with rolling Cornish hills and farmland immediately accessible from the town plus the coast path being within easy reach. From here we enjoy the extraordinary vistas of Cape Cornwall with it’s exciting Atlantic swell both ancient sites and more recent mining remains. Fishing boats still work out of the harbour and there is a tidal pool for outdoor swimmers. The unusual prehistoric site of Ballowall Barrow which overlooks the Atlantic is along the coast path from here as is the beautiful Cot Valley and cliff-bound Porth Nanven beach with its unusual geology. Lots of coastal flora and fauna to explore - this is also a good time of year to spot the amazing Atlantic sealife - dolphins, whales are seals are regular winter visitors, but not guaranteed!
If we walk in the other direction we reach the bronze age Tregaseal Stone Circle and the important ancient landscape which it sits in, the famous ‘hooting carn’ and mysterious ‘holed stones’. We are also fortunate that St Just is in a Dark Skies area and there will be lowlight nights and are hoping for weather for stargazing.
Our Residency Venue
We will base ourselves at the St Just Old Town Hall which started life as a Victorian drill hall, next St Just town council and meeting place and now a community building, run by volunteers. There is a large amount of space for us to use for making activities, plus other smaller spaces for conversation, breakout activities and quiet time. There is a small kitchen for our use. The hall gives out onto a hard standing, with the ancient Plen an Gwarry green space a few minutes' walk away, plus all the small shops, cafes and pubs which this lovely small town offers. We are also fortunate that St Just has a strong history of creative activity, with artist Kurt Jackson’s gallery being a street or two away from our venue.
We encourage creatives, researchers and enthusiasts of all disciplines to join us; if you know anyone you think would be interested in the residency, please encourage them to apply.
Our residencies have a relaxed environment with plenty of time to immerse yourselves in your practice or research. We encourage everyone to share enthusiasm and relevant research; our overview theme 'Dark Skies, Wild Seas, Ancient Places' reflects our recent project activities and is connected to star stories, astronomy, geology, and local heritage.
Working Space
We offer a welcoming atmosphere and work hard to be inclusive, making adaptations wherever possible so that people of all learning styles and physical abilities are catered for.
Transport
St Just is well connected to Penzance by a regular bus service, and later arrivals have often shared taxis. Land’s End Airport is surprisingly close — perhaps even plan an extra day trip to the stunning Isles of Scilly.
Accommodation
This is a non-residential residency, with accommodation arranged at your own expense. St Just offers a wealth of choices to suit every budget — from budget-friendly camping to cosy cottages — so you can select the style and price point that suits you best. This flexibility is reflected in our pricing structure.
We’ve chosen a venue as close as possible to our much-loved Cot Valley site (currently unavailable), offering the same special atmosphere of this beautiful part of Cornwall, plus more space for making and creating. Being in the lively town of St Just means evenings can be enjoyed together in local cafés and pubs, with partners or travelling companions welcome. A small kitchen will also be available for use in the early evening.
Food
Meals are at your own expense. St Just has excellent dining options, including welcoming pubs serving hearty food, an artisan deli, a local pizza spot, and of course, plenty of Cornish pasties and ice cream. A well-stocked Co-op supermarket is also nearby.
Further Information
Check our FAQs for more details, and don’t hesitate to get in touch via the enquiry form with any questions.
We will follow all current Covid-19 regulations and government guidelines.
Outcomes
We invite you to showcase your work through our networking channels and contribute to our online blog; this will be shared across our social media platforms.
Participants will also become part of the Mayes Creative network, designed to continue working relationships and collaborations, provoke conversation and discussion.
Further Details:
Taking the theme of 'Dark Skies, Wild Seas, Ancient Places' we consider the stories of stars and the wild coastline of the Cornish peninsular, looking at how people have lived and worked this special landscape since prehistory using and enjoying the ancient night skies and sea connectivity that we can experience today.
Highlights during the residency include:
**A mix of art, science and heritage discussions
**Time to explore the heritage of St Just with its famous Plen an Gwarry medieval outdoor theatre, St Just church and ancient churchyard. St Just was also a key town in the story of Cornwall mining.
**A group visit to the Kurt Jackson gallery in St Just
**Informative and inspiring walks including a visit to Tregeseal Bronze Age Stone Circle and the intriguing prehistoric barrows and ‘holed stones’
** Enjoy exploring the famous Cape Cornwall with its views across the Atlantic and sea pool, a renowned place for spotting whales and dolphins when they are passing (not guaranteed!). We will also visit the ancient Ballowall Barrow and heritage mining and geological site of the Cot Valley.
**Enjoy a sunset and low light opportunities (weather dependant)**
**Phytograms and opportunity for alternative film development using plants with artist Joanna Mayes
**Enjoy a sunset and low light opportunities (weather dependant)
**Star gazing in the wonderful dark skies of Penwith, with astronomer Carolyn Kennett as our guide
**Optional early morning walk for coastal sketching, photography or inspiration to capture the light and atmosphere of the peninsula
**A shared welcome supper on the first evening — a chance to meet fellow residents, share stories, and consider creative approaches to the residency
Residency Fees
£299 - full price per person (staying in your own accommodation)
£150 – 2 x supported price places for Cornwall residents – chosen by need and enthusiasm!
£200 – 1 x supported place (includes non Cornwall residents) – chosen as above
Supported places are likely to be filled early, so please apply to the first round – deadline 31st August 2025.
Activities
The residency runs from Wednesday 22nd October, 5:00 pm to Saturday 25th October, 3:00 pm.
We begin with a welcome meal in a local pub (own expense) — a relaxed chance to meet each other. If the weather is kind, we’ll follow this with a short low-light walk and some stargazing.
We finish at 3:00 pm on Saturday to allow time for bus connections back to Penzance train station for onward travel. Evening activities will be planned as part of the schedule, but all are entirely optional.
Accessibility
We offer a welcoming atmosphere and work hard to be inclusive and make adaptations to ensure that people of all learning styles and levels of physical ability are catered for. Downstairs at The Old Town Hall is fully wheelchair accessible (but please check sizes etc with us first). The upstairs of The Old Town Hall does not have a lift and can only be accessed by stairs. Please let us know about any physical challenges you may have and we will do our best to ensure that you receive the best experience available. Please get in touch if you have any particular questions or needs you wish to talk to us about prior to application. This particular residency does include some longer walks, hills and potentially rougher terrain, so please chat to us if you have any concerns about this - all activities are optional, but we don't want anyone to feel left out.
Apply now to secure your place by emailing this application form to [email protected]
If you have any further queries, please email us or phone Carolyn on 07415 123156
5pm Weds 22nd to 3pm Saturday 25th October 2025
A fantastic opportunity to spend time with like-minded people in the fascinating location of St Just in Penwith, Cornwall, nestled within the UK's most Westerly peninsular. This fascinating arts-science-heritage opportunity is curated to inspire art practitioners, researchers and thinkers alike.
About the Residency
We base ourselves at the Old Town Hall in St Just; Britain’s most westerly town and former centre of mining in West Penwith which sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, where the waves crash into the granite cliffs. This residency offers an immersive experience with a wealth of creative inspiration, space to make work and also for walking, talking and spending time with like-minded people.We welcome all art forms with lots of opportunity for site-specific working.
St Just is extraordinary in its’ location, with rolling Cornish hills and farmland immediately accessible from the town plus the coast path being within easy reach. From here we enjoy the extraordinary vistas of Cape Cornwall with it’s exciting Atlantic swell both ancient sites and more recent mining remains. Fishing boats still work out of the harbour and there is a tidal pool for outdoor swimmers. The unusual prehistoric site of Ballowall Barrow which overlooks the Atlantic is along the coast path from here as is the beautiful Cot Valley and cliff-bound Porth Nanven beach with its unusual geology. Lots of coastal flora and fauna to explore - this is also a good time of year to spot the amazing Atlantic sealife - dolphins, whales are seals are regular winter visitors, but not guaranteed!
If we walk in the other direction we reach the bronze age Tregaseal Stone Circle and the important ancient landscape which it sits in, the famous ‘hooting carn’ and mysterious ‘holed stones’. We are also fortunate that St Just is in a Dark Skies area and there will be lowlight nights and are hoping for weather for stargazing.
Our Residency Venue
We will base ourselves at the St Just Old Town Hall which started life as a Victorian drill hall, next St Just town council and meeting place and now a community building, run by volunteers. There is a large amount of space for us to use for making activities, plus other smaller spaces for conversation, breakout activities and quiet time. There is a small kitchen for our use. The hall gives out onto a hard standing, with the ancient Plen an Gwarry green space a few minutes' walk away, plus all the small shops, cafes and pubs which this lovely small town offers. We are also fortunate that St Just has a strong history of creative activity, with artist Kurt Jackson’s gallery being a street or two away from our venue.
We encourage creatives, researchers and enthusiasts of all disciplines to join us; if you know anyone you think would be interested in the residency, please encourage them to apply.
Our residencies have a relaxed environment with plenty of time to immerse yourselves in your practice or research. We encourage everyone to share enthusiasm and relevant research; our overview theme 'Dark Skies, Wild Seas, Ancient Places' reflects our recent project activities and is connected to star stories, astronomy, geology, and local heritage.
Working Space
We offer a welcoming atmosphere and work hard to be inclusive, making adaptations wherever possible so that people of all learning styles and physical abilities are catered for.
- The downstairs of The Old Town Hall is fully wheelchair accessible (please check specific measurements with us in advance).
- The upstairs is only accessible via stairs and does not have a lift.
Transport
St Just is well connected to Penzance by a regular bus service, and later arrivals have often shared taxis. Land’s End Airport is surprisingly close — perhaps even plan an extra day trip to the stunning Isles of Scilly.
Accommodation
This is a non-residential residency, with accommodation arranged at your own expense. St Just offers a wealth of choices to suit every budget — from budget-friendly camping to cosy cottages — so you can select the style and price point that suits you best. This flexibility is reflected in our pricing structure.
We’ve chosen a venue as close as possible to our much-loved Cot Valley site (currently unavailable), offering the same special atmosphere of this beautiful part of Cornwall, plus more space for making and creating. Being in the lively town of St Just means evenings can be enjoyed together in local cafés and pubs, with partners or travelling companions welcome. A small kitchen will also be available for use in the early evening.
Food
Meals are at your own expense. St Just has excellent dining options, including welcoming pubs serving hearty food, an artisan deli, a local pizza spot, and of course, plenty of Cornish pasties and ice cream. A well-stocked Co-op supermarket is also nearby.
Further Information
Check our FAQs for more details, and don’t hesitate to get in touch via the enquiry form with any questions.
We will follow all current Covid-19 regulations and government guidelines.
Outcomes
We invite you to showcase your work through our networking channels and contribute to our online blog; this will be shared across our social media platforms.
Participants will also become part of the Mayes Creative network, designed to continue working relationships and collaborations, provoke conversation and discussion.
Further Details:
Taking the theme of 'Dark Skies, Wild Seas, Ancient Places' we consider the stories of stars and the wild coastline of the Cornish peninsular, looking at how people have lived and worked this special landscape since prehistory using and enjoying the ancient night skies and sea connectivity that we can experience today.
Highlights during the residency include:
**A mix of art, science and heritage discussions
**Time to explore the heritage of St Just with its famous Plen an Gwarry medieval outdoor theatre, St Just church and ancient churchyard. St Just was also a key town in the story of Cornwall mining.
**A group visit to the Kurt Jackson gallery in St Just
**Informative and inspiring walks including a visit to Tregeseal Bronze Age Stone Circle and the intriguing prehistoric barrows and ‘holed stones’
** Enjoy exploring the famous Cape Cornwall with its views across the Atlantic and sea pool, a renowned place for spotting whales and dolphins when they are passing (not guaranteed!). We will also visit the ancient Ballowall Barrow and heritage mining and geological site of the Cot Valley.
**Enjoy a sunset and low light opportunities (weather dependant)**
**Phytograms and opportunity for alternative film development using plants with artist Joanna Mayes
**Enjoy a sunset and low light opportunities (weather dependant)
**Star gazing in the wonderful dark skies of Penwith, with astronomer Carolyn Kennett as our guide
**Optional early morning walk for coastal sketching, photography or inspiration to capture the light and atmosphere of the peninsula
**A shared welcome supper on the first evening — a chance to meet fellow residents, share stories, and consider creative approaches to the residency
Residency Fees
£299 - full price per person (staying in your own accommodation)
£150 – 2 x supported price places for Cornwall residents – chosen by need and enthusiasm!
£200 – 1 x supported place (includes non Cornwall residents) – chosen as above
Supported places are likely to be filled early, so please apply to the first round – deadline 31st August 2025.
Activities
The residency runs from Wednesday 22nd October, 5:00 pm to Saturday 25th October, 3:00 pm.
We begin with a welcome meal in a local pub (own expense) — a relaxed chance to meet each other. If the weather is kind, we’ll follow this with a short low-light walk and some stargazing.
We finish at 3:00 pm on Saturday to allow time for bus connections back to Penzance train station for onward travel. Evening activities will be planned as part of the schedule, but all are entirely optional.
Accessibility
We offer a welcoming atmosphere and work hard to be inclusive and make adaptations to ensure that people of all learning styles and levels of physical ability are catered for. Downstairs at The Old Town Hall is fully wheelchair accessible (but please check sizes etc with us first). The upstairs of The Old Town Hall does not have a lift and can only be accessed by stairs. Please let us know about any physical challenges you may have and we will do our best to ensure that you receive the best experience available. Please get in touch if you have any particular questions or needs you wish to talk to us about prior to application. This particular residency does include some longer walks, hills and potentially rougher terrain, so please chat to us if you have any concerns about this - all activities are optional, but we don't want anyone to feel left out.
Apply now to secure your place by emailing this application form to [email protected]
If you have any further queries, please email us or phone Carolyn on 07415 123156
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