A CHANCE TO CONNECT, REFLECT, AND EXPLORE
We were delighted to welcome our Board of Trustees to Cornwall for our annual Trustees Day, a special opportunity for board members to meet in person, spend time with the team, and experience our programmes and spaces first-hand.
The day began with the formal business of the Board meeting, held at The Exchange in Penzance. In the past, our Board was made up of individuals living locally to the gallery, but thanks to the increased use of blended meetings, with some trustees joining remotely, we now benefit from a broader, national mix of expertise. While this allows us to bring new perspectives into the organisation, it also makes these in-person gatherings all the more valuable.
As Gallery Director James Green explains:
“Trustees Day is a brilliant moment in the year where everyone — staff and board — can come together. It’s important for good governance, of course, but also for morale and relationship-building. Trustees gain a deeper sense of the organisation when they see the work and meet the people delivering it every day.”
Following the meeting, trustees and staff came together for lunch, a relaxed and sociable moment in the day, and a chance to put names to faces.
“Spending the day with fellow Trustees and the dedicated team at Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange was a real privilege,” said Jane Faram, one of our trustees. “Just as the Ordnance Datum in Newlyn sets the benchmark for measuring the nation’s heights, this unique organisation sets a standard for how art can be rooted in place while reaching far and wide. I’m thrilled to be part of what’s next!”
After lunch, the group had a guided tour of Chantal Joffe: The Prince at The Exchange, led by our curatorial team, before making the short journey to Newlyn on foot. There, they explored Armada and Shares, two extraordinary works by Hew Locke. The afternoon concluded with a walk around Newlyn Harbour — part of our popular Newlyn Walking Tour route — led by Gallery Director James Green and Kathy Hill from the team.
We see Trustees Day as an important fixture in our annual calendar, not only for strengthening relationships and building shared understanding, but also as a reminder of the rich context in which we operate. Being based in the far west of Cornwall, our place and our communities are central to what we do, and sharing that with the board reinforces our purpose.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to be evolving the makeup of the Board. In November, three new trustees will officially join us, bringing fresh insight and a wide range of expertise to the table. They will join a supportive and engaged board, committed to helping the gallery thrive.
Their guidance and encouragement make a huge difference to the way we work, providing both challenge and support, and helping us to be ambitious, thoughtful, and responsive in all that we do.
