Introduction to Falmouth Art Gallery

Falmouth Art Gallery is run by Falmouth Town Council and takes up part of the first floor of the Library building.  This is a grand old building with a lovely entrance hall with stairs that split part way up to a galleried landing.  The entrance hall and the walls of the landing above have also been used to display art.  Overlooking the stairs a large 15 foot by 11 foot window is now home to Cornwall's largest contemporary stained glass window.  Over 2000 people were involved in the making of this window with the design produced by users of the charity Falcare.  There is also a lovely glass mobile that hangs down over the stairs.

As you go up the stairs, if you take the right fork, there is a little staircase that splits off.  It is well signposted to Falmouth Art Gallery.  The first room is where the highlights of the collection display is, as well as a shop and a toilet.  For those unable to use the stairs to reach the gallery, you can walk to the side of the building and use Webber Hill, a relatively steep path that brings you to the first floor entrance at the rear of the building.  There are a few steps at the bottom of Webber Hill however.  Before you reach Webber Hill, there is an access point at the immediate end of the building that will bring you to an entrance with lift access inside.  I have not used this entrance however.

From this first room, there are a further two rooms which house the current exhibition.  Walking through the first to reach the second, there is then an exit on to the landing of the grand entrance staircase.

Falmouth has a long history of artists residing there and it's School of Art continues to this day as part of Falmouth College of Art, which is now part of the Combined Universities of Cornwall.  I think because of the quality of artists residing in the town, they have been very lucky that the current Art Gallery has inherited a marvellous collection of high quality art.  This is a foundation they continue to build on.

The Highlights of the Collection exhibition changes twice yearly while I think the second exhibition changes three times per year.  It is definitely worth checking the website or facebook page to see when the exhibitions are changing as one or other of the spaces may not be accessible.  The exhibits are of high quality and it is definitely worth a visit, although it will not take up too much time.

The exhibitions are free to enter, although there is the opportunity to make a donation.


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