Jackson Foundation Gallery

The Jackson Foundation Gallery in St Just is a worthwhile west Penwith addition to an art-focused stay in Penzance. Founded by contemporary artist Kurt Jackson and Caroline Jackson, the gallery occupies a large former industrial building in the centre of the old mining town and concentrates on the relationship between art and the natural world. Its exhibitions can span painting, poetry, sculpture, installation and film, with environmental and non-profit organisations often involved in the wider programme.

Admission is free and no booking is normally required for an ordinary gallery visit. The programme changes seasonally, so returning visitors may encounter a different body of Kurt Jackson’s work or a new environmental theme each time. The building is also run with a strong sustainability focus, using solar power and ground-source heat, which fits the subject matter rather than feeling like an unrelated add-on to the gallery.

Practical planning matters because the gallery is not open year-round on a simple daily schedule and it closes for an hour at lunchtime on its published open days. There is no visitor parking immediately outside on North Row; the gallery directs drivers to the large free public car park about two minutes away or to short-stay spaces in Market Square. Dogs are not admitted apart from trained assistance dogs, and visitors should check the current exhibition dates and seasonal hours on the official visit page before making the trip from Penzance.