Situated above the Helford River, this ancient Cornish farmstead runs a full and varied programme of events, performances and exhibitions from April to October each year, bringing eclectic contemporary art to its unique rural setting.
Having recently undergone an award-winning conservation and conversion project, Kestle Barton’s barns and farmhouse have been transformed into quirky self-catering accommodation, the profits from which support the programming of music, theatre, art and dance events, alongside funding from Arts Council England.
The programme of events maintains a strong emphasis on artists based in Cornwall or those with a strong connection to the area. However, internationally celebrated artists also perform and exhibit at this venue if their work has a particularly strong resonance within Cornwall.
Previous acts have included ‘Spontonality’: a live music improvisation sequence, ‘Ray’s Sheds: The Hidden Work of Ray Exworth’, a photography exhibition by Jem Southam, and ‘Death and Circuses’, an exhibition of paintings by Nicola Bealing.
In addition to supporting the arts, Kestle Barton also hosts a series of nature, literature and painting workshops, including ‘A Weekend in the Woods with the National Trust’, ‘Seed Garden: Hearts and Hands Creative Workshop’ and a festival celebrating children’s literature, which is a fantastic event for all the family.
Tucked away in a rural pocket of Manaccan near Helston, Kestle Barton is situated on the footpath between Helford Village and Frenchman’s Creek.
For more information on Kestle Barton, visit http://www.kestlebarton.co.uk/.
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