Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen will be in Cornwall next month as part of a summer of art celebrations.

Mr McQueen has been invited by Helston-based (Cornubian Arts and Science Trust) as part of its three-month Groundwork programme.

His film Gravesend will be shown at the CAST building in Penrose Road from this Saturday until June 3, in a specially built dark room. It will be played on a rolling loop, alongside Unexploded, a short film he made during his time as a war artist in Iraq The British artist, whose film 12 Years a Slave won three Academy Awards, including best picture, also won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Hunger, the FIPRESCI prize for Shame at the Venice Film Festival is a Turner Prize winner for his art.

To coincide with the final day of the exhibition at CAST, he will discuss his work with Nicholas Serota, former director of the Tate, in front of an audience at Truro’s Plaza cinema.

“Steve McQueen in conversation with Nicholas Serota” will take place on Sunday, June 3 at 11am. Booking, direct from the cinema, is essential, with a £5 admission charge for the event.

Groundwork launches this Saturday with events taking place all over the Helston and Lizard area, as well as further afield, for the opening weekend. A programme of exhibitions and activities featuring art, video and music will then continue throughout the summer. Full details can be found at groundwork.art/programme.

This Saturday also marks the opening of the new CAST Café in Helston’s Penrose Road.

Run by chef-manager Dom Bailey, it will be open Thursdays to Sundays, 10am to 6pm, as well as Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Many people will get their first glimpse on Flora Day, when it will open early until 2pm.

The café is part of a half-a-million-pound renovation of the CAST building, with further work taking place on the other half of the building from this September that will create a new entry into the former assembly hall, a lobby area and provide heating to allow year-round events.