Introduction

The third Cornwall Workshop took place from 11 to 18 March 2016 at Kestle Barton. It was led by acclaimed British artist and filmmaker Ben Rivers and focused on artists’ moving image practices, with an emphasis on analogue technologies. It was organised by CAST in partnership with Tate St Ives and LUX, the national agency that supports and promotes artists working with the moving image.

The programme included screenings, walks and activities led by Ben Rivers, expanding upon key themes explored in his work: from the concept of ‘edgelands’ and his interest in the physical and conceptual borders of society to portraiture and ethnography. Poet Paul Farley led a walk around Helston’s ‘edge lands’, from the recycling centre to the sewage-works. Ben Rivers gave a public talk at Helston Community College and introduced a screening at Falmouth School of Art. 

Participants learnt the basics of artisanal 16mm film production, from working with a Bolex camera to hand-processing. There were daily screenings from the LUX collection, selected and introduced by Ben Rivers. 

Eleven participants were selected from an open submission. Five international curators joined the group – from Scotland, Ireland, Poland, Italy and Romania. LUX Special Projects Curator Nicole Yip coordinated the programme and was joined by LUX Director Benjamin Cook and Deputy Director of LUX Scotland, Luke Collins. 

The Workshop was hosted by CAST and Kestle Barton Trust, with support from Visual Arts South West, Plymouth College of Art, Creative Skills, The School of Film and Television and the School of Art at Falmouth University, the Polish Cultural Institute, London and Fondazione Antonio Ratti, Como. LUX’s contribution to The Cornwall Workshop was presented as part of an organisational residency at Tate St Ives during March and April 2016.