Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange

Newlyn Art Gallery opened in 1895 as a result of the support of the Le Grice family, who gifted the land, and the philanthropist John Passmore Edwards. After presenting contemporary art here for more than 110 years, in 2007 it redeveloped the existing Newlyn site and acquired Penzance’s former telephone exchange close to the town centre. This enabled the gallery to expand its programme ambitions, providing new space to better reflect the diversity of current artists’ practice in Cornwall, the UK and internationally. 

But its buildings and spaces are just means to an end. Inspired by the principles of John Passmore Edwards, its real focus, informed by the experience of recent years, is on the change it can make for the communities it serves. 

The Covid pandemic led the gallery to adapt its work to address the urgent needs of local and, on occasions, global communities, embracing digital technologies like never before and drawing on our extensive networks with national organisations, from the Arts Council Collection to the National Portrait Gallery, and local partners including Newlyn School, Mounts Bay Academy, Intercom Trust, WILD Young Parents Project, and social prescribing networks.

Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange is an educational arts charity, an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, a Cornwall Council Strategic Arts Client, and a member of the Plus Tate network.