CAST-Off Summer Activities

CAST's popular off-site programme of outdoor creative activities for children and families returns to Helston this summer, with free artist-led activities on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 3 to 28 August. All activities are offered on a drop-in basis, no booking required.

This year there are two main bases for activities, with workshops in the walled garden at Penrose and den making with artist Ben Sanderson in 'Ben's Den', located in a little wood on the edge of town near the Bulwark estate.

Look out for exciting activities devised by CAST studio holders and other Cornwall-based artists in the walled garden, including pigment making, metal casting, pinch pottery, clay construction, botanical exploration, wild weaving, sound walks, stone smoothing, and granite bashing.

A new map leaflet, with lots of things for children to do and discover in their own time, will be available from 3 August. You can pick the map up at CAST Café on Penrose Road, at the Stables Café, at Ben's Den, or at artist-led sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays in the walled garden, where packs with sketchbooks and artist pencils will also be available.

The map has tasks to be completed and there will be special rubber stamps to collect from points around Penrose. On Saturday 28 August, there will be small prizes in the walled garden for children who have completed lots of tasks on the map.

We won't be put off by a bit of drizzle and hope you won't either, but please check the website or CASTCornwall Facebook page on the day in case of extreme weather or last-minute changes. Tuesday and Saturday sessions will run from 10am to 12 noon and 2 to 4pm.

The map, sketchbook packs, and artist-led activities are all offered free of charge, but we should be very grateful for donations to support this programme and future activities for children and young people. Online donations can be made via our Charities Aid Foundation page and there will be donation jars in the walled garden.

The CAST-Off programme is supported by the Garcia Family Foundation, with generous assistance from Helston Town Council, Little Parc Owles Trust, FEAST, and Falmouth University.