Women of Cornwall exhibition, April 2024, a major project in collaboration with Katie Bunnell. Photo by Tom Ebdon.
ABOUT art centre penryn
A new creative centre in the heart of Penryn
Art Centre Penryn provides artist studios and workspace alongside a gallery and an art room for a range of creative activities.
Our aim is to connect people through art and provide valuable experiences for all through a programme of exhibitions, projects, courses, residencies and events.
Art Centre Penryn is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company.
The former Chapel and School Room sit right in the heart of Penryn Town Centre. Photo taken pre-refurbishment of the School Room.
Development project
Art Centre Penryn is based at the former Penryn Methodist Church and School Room in Penryn Town Centre. We have recently completed the major refurbishment of the School Room building. The building now provides six artist studios, a shared workspace for six freelancers, an art room and outdoor courtyard.
The £340k refurbishment was designed by the RIBA award-winning architectural practice Dow Jones Architects. It includes a new roof, with roof lights and solar panels, generous first floor studio spaces, refurbished walls and sash windows and all new electrics and heating throughout. The result is a range of light-filled and calm spaces, with modern facilities comfortably sitting alongside the beautiful heritage building.
We are now moving on to the development of the former chapel to create a contemporary art gallery capable of hosting a wide range of exhibitions and events.
The School Room, a two-storey granite building behind the chapel, has a new roof and solar panels. Internal refurbishment has provided 6 artist studios, a workspace and art room.
The new art room which hosts creative courses and community programmes
Back Story
From 2019 to 2024, we ran the gallery at Grays Wharf on Commercial Road and presented many exhibitions and projects there. We’re grateful for the fantastic support we received from artists, local people and organisations while we were based at Grays Wharf.
We moved to the former Penryn Methodist Church and School Room in 2024, and changed our name, but everything we learned from running the gallery at Grays Wharf has informed the development of Art Centre Penryn.
Gathering, Group Show, 2021. Curated by Verity Birt and Jonathan Michael Ray at Grays Wharf. Photo by Oliver Udy.
The TEAM
MEGAN BECK
Founding Director
Megan is leading on the development of our organisation and the buildings at Art Centre Penryn. Megan is an experienced creative producer and educator, with a particular interest in the ability of the arts to bring about positive change for people and places. Her expertise lies in co-delivering high-quality arts, community and public realm projects.
While living in Tottenham, North London, Megan initiated and co-delivered a range of public art and public realm improvement projects. She has previously worked for award-winning architectural practices.
Megan has developed and taught on a number of arts courses in FE and Adult and Community Education.
MIRRI DAMER
Founding Director
Mirri combines her extensive design and business expertise in supporting the development of Art Centre Penryn. She has a particular interest in providing valuable opportunities and career progression for young people.
In 2017, Mirri co-developed Grays Wharf on Commercial Road in Penryn, transforming it from a derelict building to a thriving art space with 12 artist studios. This was also the home of our organisation and gallery for six years.
Mirri is a goldsmith whose award-winning work is displayed and sold in shops and galleries nationally and internationally. Her practice is based on the Old High Street in Falmouth.
EMMA HAUGHTON
Director
Emma joined the team in 2022 to support our development as we moved from Grays Wharf to Art Centre Penryn.
Emma is an accredited coach, facilitator, and trainer with over 25 years’ experience supporting individuals and organisations in the creative and not-for-profit sectors. She works with an intuitive, compassionate and creative style and brings the diversity of her experience and skills.
Emma’s previous career was as a creative producer, working in partnership with artists. She believes that creativity is at the core of real change.
SHAQ LUE
Creative Producer
Shaq joined the team in September 2026 to support our development and run new activities, including Sing & Play, a group for parents, babies and toddlers.
Shaq is a postgraduate researcher at Falmouth University, exploring devised physical theatre and identity. She is a Trustee at The Poly, Falmouth and works with organisations and individuals to strengthen communication and connect mission with strategy.
Shaq studied Creative and Media Enterprises and Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Warwick. She founded Warwick A cappella Society and established the UK’s Open A cappella Competition, Warwick Arts Centre.
PATRICK TOWELL
Director
Patrick joined Art Centre Penryn as a non-executive director in 2026, advising on our governance, strategy and fundraising.
He brings a wealth of expertise from across his career as a senior advisor, programme director and executive, with experience of leadership roles within the public, private and third sectors.
Patrick was first involved with the organisation back in 2020 when he co-led the Creative & Cultural Leadership Development Programme for Cornwall with Mandy Berry. Megan was a member of the first cohort of the programme and was then able to access further mentoring with Patrick over the next couple of years. These programmes were funded by Cultivator through the former European Social Fund.
GEORGIE WORTH
Creative Learning Producer
Georgie joined the team in August 2026. She is supporting the development of our learning programme and runs our weekly creative social groups Meet & Make and Tea, Cake & Art.
Georgie is enthusiastic about the radical potential of engaged community and creative participation for joyful and sustainable change. Her interests lie at the intersections of art, ecology, communities, and social justice.
Georgie has worked at and with organisations including Artangel, Barbican Centre, the Centre for Art and Ecology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Tolson Museum. She supports several community-focused non-profits, co-runs curatorial collective soft shock, and has a self-taught, mixed-media creative practice.
ASSOCIATES
Art Centre Penryn Associates are creative professionals who we work with on specific funded projects or programmes. They bring their experience and expertise to the team under short-term freelance contracts and are a valued part of our organisation.
KATIE BUNNELL
Associate : Development
Katie is the lead artist on the Women of Cornwall project and is supporting the strategic development of our venue and programmes. Katie is a designer, maker and curator. Her creative practice explores material qualities, form and pattern in ceramics. Working with us, she previously co-produced Mesh, Loop & Line and My Jubilee.
As Associate Professor of Design at Falmouth University, Katie created Autonomatic, an award-winning craft research collective. She was Interim Director at the Leach Pottery, co-curator for Whitegold, an arts and regeneration project in St Austell and a director for Brickfield, a community brickworks based in a disused clay pit in Cornwall's clay country.
KATIE ETHERIDGE
Associate : Community Engagement
Katie first worked with us in 2024. She developed our community engagement strategy, building on our existing community network and seeking out opportunities to reach new and diverse audiences. Katie was also a project artist on the Church Records project with her company Small Acts.
Katie is an artist and producer with 25 years’ experience connecting people and places through playful, inventive and interactive performances and artworks. With Small Acts, Katie has created socially engaged work with communities locally, nationally and internationally, including a number of projects in Penryn over the last 12 years.
former TEAM MEMBERS
LOTTIE MATTHEWS
Creative Producer (Oct 2023 - Mar 2025)
Lottie worked across our arts and community programmes and supported the development of our new venue as we moved from Grays Wharf to Art Centre Penryn. With a particular interest in arts for socially engaged creative spaces, Lottie facilitated our creative social groups, Meet & Make and Tea, Cake & Art which run every Tuesday.
Lottie studied Textile Design at Falmouth University before working with a range of organisations to develop visual identity and producing creative content. She continues her own mixed-media creative practice.
SARAH TRIDGELL
Project Assistant (Jul 2024 - Mar 2025)
Sarah joined the team in July 2024 to help design and produce three projects funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund: Church Records, Women of Cornwall and Goodbye & Good Luck. Sarah also helped create an exhibition, education and meeting space, which has allowed us to establish and run a number of new groups and creative projects.
Sarah has over 15 years multi-disciplinary experience working on design and curation projects, with a particular interest in support and promotion for artists, designers and makers and a drive for improving well-being and creativity within communities.
SOPHIE TWINING
Intern (Exhibitions)
Sophie joined the team for six months from September 2022 and became a key member of the team delivering our Arts Council England funded programme of exhibitions in 2022/23. Sophie studied Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University and discovered a love of printmaking, which she continues to pursue. Sophie has a strong interest in curation and community engagement and continues to develop her career in this area.
Sophie’s Internship was made possible with funding from Cultivator Cornwall and Arts Council England.