Care Leavers Connect Through UK-Wide Art Exhibition Tour
Local Young People Find Their Voice Through Art
Young people from Carefree Cornwall are transforming their lives through a groundbreaking art collaboration that’s bringing galleries across the UK together. The Making Her Mark exhibition celebrates women artists while offering care leavers genuine creative opportunities and a platform to be heard.
Emma Thomas, one of the participants supported by Carefree Cornwall, describes how the project has given her newfound confidence. “I wouldn’t have done this a year ago,” she reflects, highlighting the profound personal growth the initiative has sparked. Working alongside Penzance-based artist Kate Turner, the group created a powerful banner exploring what fairness and equity look like for women in the art world and other marginalised voices.
The Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance is leading this regional effort, partnering with Kirkcaldy Galleries in Scotland and Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum. Together, these institutions are breaking down barriers that typically prevent smaller galleries from telling comprehensive stories about overlooked artists. Anna Renton from Penlee House emphasises their commitment to nurturing creativity within the local care community, ensuring young people aren’t just visitors but active participants shaping cultural conversations in their region.
Building Bridges Across Scotland and Cornwall
What makes this project special isn’t just the art—it’s the human connections being formed across the country. When Carefree Cornwall’s group undertook an 11-hour train journey to Kirkcaldy, they discovered unexpected common ground with young people in Scotland’s coastal community. The similar maritime heritage, tourism focus, and seaside landscapes created an immediate sense of belonging.
But the real magic happened behind the gallery walls. Going behind the scenes at Kirkcaldy Galleries sparked genuine interest in new career paths. Josie Bond discovered a passion for history through exploring the archives: “It’s a really cool environment to be in,” she explains. Cameron Jones was equally moved by the warmth of the Scottish community, noting how they embraced Cornish culture with the same enthusiasm locals showed for theirs. “They wanted to know all about Cornwall,” he says. “It felt like they were accepting our Cornish culture, just as much as we were appreciating theirs. It was a really beautiful thing.”
These aren’t just day trips—they’re transformative experiences where young people with shared backgrounds of being in care can support each other while discovering new possibilities. The gallery visits become more than cultural outings; they become safe spaces where voices are valued and futures feel possible.
What This Means for Our Community
The £5.3 million Going Places project, awarded by the Art Fund, represents a significant investment in making culture accessible and inclusive across the UK. For Newquay and wider Cornwall, it means our local galleries are part of a national conversation about whose stories get told and who gets celebrated in the art world.
Care leavers in our region now have genuine opportunities to develop creative skills, build confidence, and access cultural spaces that might have felt unwelcoming before. These young people become ambassadors for the arts, showing that creativity isn’t just for those with privileged backgrounds—it’s for everyone. If you go to Newquay or visit galleries like Penlee House, you’re supporting institutions that actively champion overlooked voices.
The initiative also highlights why our local museums and galleries matter beyond tourism and foot traffic. They’re essential community hubs offering mentorship, belonging, and genuine creative expression. Local residents can support this work by engaging with exhibitions, attending events, and spreading the word about opportunities for young people. Watch for upcoming displays featuring the banners and artwork created by care leavers, and consider how your family might engage with these powerful stories. The next tour stop brings these voices home—making sure our own young people see themselves reflected in the cultural institutions shaping our community’s identity.
Source: Care leavers form connections as art show tours UK
