THE historic Grade ll* Porthmeor Studios will be the busiest venue at this year’s St Ives September Festival.

Originally built in the early 1800s as for the pilchard fishing industry, the studios whose resident artists have included the legendary Ben Nicholson, Patrick Heron, Francis Bacon, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and others will be hosting 32 events over the 15 days of the Festival.

The programme is made up of 12 talks, six film screenings, six performances of Porthmeor Theatre’s ghost story Evelyn, three days of St Ives Rotary’s annual Spot The Arts charity painting sale, poetry readings and a comedian.

Art-themed talks include Illuminating Alfred Wallace with Matilda Webb, author of the recently published Alfred Wallis: Child Pauper to Artistic Luminary in conversation with Ethan Carney, who also has his own two talks Who Helped Hepworth? and The Words of Wilhelmina-Barns Graham.

Artist Francesca Owen’s journey Penzance to Paris discusses contemporary impressionism while art historian David Tovey will talk about Representational artists inspired by their Porthmeor Studios.

Other art-themed talks include Madie Parkinson-Evans’ Brushes Against Tradition explaining the artistic journeys of Frances Hodgkins and Edith Collier, Catherine Wallace’s Artists of Anchor Studio and Sarah Latham Phillips on Mrs Dalloway, the Centenary Year, Art, Modernism and Ward.

Locally-based talks feature Janet Axten’s Short History of the Downalong Communities and Tregenna Castle with Tony Liddicoat, author of a new book on the St Ives landmark hotel and resort.

Global Jamming’s Spirit of St Ives, a fundraiser for St Ives Concert Band and St Ives Foodshare will see the community music platform unveil new interpretations of songs by John Barber with guest spots from Irene Tanner, Katrina Geraghty and the Cantiamo choir, Nicole Tesseyman, Dave and Dee Brotherton, Vaughan Bennett and members of the town’s civic band Bagas an Norvys performing to a backdrop of films by Tony Mason.

Jak Camidge and Linda Stringer return with their multi-media show Wish We Weren’t Here: Disappointed Literary Visitors 1820-1965 including George Eliot, DH Lawrence and Donovan who might or might not have given Cornwall five stars on Tripadvisor.

Stand-up comedian Robin Banks will be making his Porthmeor Studios debut and there will be a free afternoon of poetry readings with Evelyn Holloway and David Ward.

Popular films returning include Memories of Barbara, Ben and the St Ives Modernists from Sir Alan Bowness, Pilchards – A Brief History of the Cornish Sardine and a double bill of Fish, Tin and Light and Porthmeor Studios Through The Eyes of the Archietect.

Full line-up and booking at www.stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk