A unique art project is underway in Penryn to digitally rebuild the town from scratch, with input from the community, arts groups and students at Cornwall College Camborne.

Re-Imagine Your Town is a unique community arts project created by InterAnima and is being held as part of Penryn's 800-year anniversary celebrations.

The project has invited people of all ages to collaborate using visual arts, storytelling and new digital technologies to re-imagine the town as it was, as it is, and as it could be, at a series of free workshops and drop in sessions throughout October.

Information from the art shop will be used by artists and students on the games design courses at Cornwall College Camborne, to produce an interactive 3D map that re-imagines, and depicts the landscape of Penryn through the ages - as it is now and into the future.

Course manager for games design, Steven Howard, said: “This is a fantastic project and I’m delighted that our students are able to support. This will test our students' skills and is a perfect example of our ethos of delivering real world experience, which will help them in their future careers.”

InterAnima has set up a pop-up community workshop at 70 Market Street, an empty shop that was formerly the Little Yellow House, to run free workshops and to discuss hopes, dreams and ideas about Penryn’s history, present and future. Art, stories and ideas gathered from the workshops will be used to develop an innovative, interactive 3D map that re-imagines, and depicts the landscape of Penryn, past, present and future.

Creative director of the project, Becalelis Brodskis, said: “The map, designed using the latest gaming and CGI technology, is the first of its kind. This is an amazing opportunity to share memories of Penryn as it used to be, or dreams of how it might be to create a ground-breaking community project. At the moment the map is almost ghostly, with everything but the town hall removed. It will be wonderful to see this familiar yet unfamiliar landscape populated with everything created, or inspired by visitors and residents of the pop-up studio.”

The workshop sessions have been designed for the whole community, young and old. From collage, to flag making workshops or a walking tour of Penryn’s pubs past, present and future, there is something for everyone. Funded by FEAST and Arts Council England, workshops are free, but due to space, some need to be booked. Information can be found at reimagineyourtown.org.

Becalelis added: “This exciting project offers an opportunity to explore Penryn’s rich heritage, to share ideas, memories and visions and, to add your contribution to a new ‘re-imagining’ of the town. InterAnima also encourage people from community organisations or local businesses to book a bespoke group session as they are keen to show how this project could help groups as well as individuals.”