Gathering, Group Show, 2021. Curated by Verity Birt and Jonathan Michael Ray at Grays Wharf
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.
School Room development
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.
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 Grays Wharf has informed the development of Art Centre Penryn.
MEGAN BECK
Founding Director
Megan is leading on the development of our organisation and our exciting new venue in Penryn Town Centre. 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 and community programmes.
Megan has developed and taught on a number of arts courses in FE and Adult and Community Education. While living in Tottenham, North London, she initiated and co-delivered a range of public art and public realm improvement projects. She has previously worked for award-winning architectural practices.
KATIE BUNNELL
Associate : Development
Katie is supporting our strategic development as we take on our exciting new venue and develop our future programmes. Katie is a designer, maker and curator. Her creative practice explores material qualities, form and pattern in ceramics. Working with us, she 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.
MIRRI DAMER
Founding Director
Mirri combines her design and business expertise to co-develop our programmes. She has a particular interest in providing valuable opportunities and career progression for young people. 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.
KATIE ETHERIDGE
Associate : Community Engagement
Katie is working with us to develop our community engagement strategy. Her work builds on our existing community network and seeks out opportunities to reach new and diverse audiences.
Katie is an artist and producer with 25 years’ experience connecting people and places through playful, inventive and interactive performances and artworks. With her company 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.
EMMA HAUGHTON
Director
Emma joined the Grays Wharf team in 2022. 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. Emma works with an intuitive, compassionate and creative style and brings the diversity of her experience and skills to the next stage of our development.
LOTTIE MATTHEWS
Creative Producer (Oct 2023 - Mar 2025)
Lottie worked across our arts and community programmes and supported the development of our new venue. 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 Grays Wharf 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.