A special supper has been held to welcome the first artists who have moved into the former community centre on Penrose Road in Helston.

Earlier this month the trustees of the Cornubian Arts and Science Trust (CAST) organised the meal to celebrate the opening up of the new-look building.

It was catered by the Greenhouse restaurant in St Keverne and held in a room at the west end of the building that CAST plans to turn into a café.

Teresa Gleadowe, from the trust, said: “Although there are at present no cooking facilities, the Greenhouse prepared a delicious 'pop up' meal - a Moroccan supper of couscous and tagines - kept warm on chafing dishes, followed by orange polenta cake and creme fraiche.

“The meal was served on trestle tables, with lots of flowers and candlelight.”

The first artists to occupy studios in the building are all from the immediate area. Nicola Bealing, Sally Cole, Mike Hoggett and Juliette Paull live in Helston, while Tim Pryke lives in Porthleven and Roger Thorp in Gunwalloe.

Although there is a great deal of renovation work to be done, the room “felt lovely,” Theresa said, “with sun pouring in on a beautiful summer evening.”

The supper marks the first stage of CAST's campaign to bring 3 Penrose Road back to life as a creative hub for Helston and the surrounding area.

Apart from the artists and their partners, guests at the supper included: Jesse Leroy Smith, who curated the successful two-day event “The Dark Rooms” in February this year; Tod Welch, Jude Carroll and Maggie Mathews who have been working on the decoration of the room; Jon Welch, who provided the music; Ben Sanderson and James Hankey, two young artists from Falmouth who are also working on the building and Amy Thomas and Oliver Irvine, who are about to take a studio in Helston, having recently moved to Cornwall from London.