Building on the legacy of The Falmouth Convention, The Penzance Convention was a three-day conference in expanded form. It reflected on the theme of extraction, with reference both to the social and environmental narratives of Cornwall’s extractive industries – mining and fishing in particular – and to the processes by which artists draw meaning from history and site.

The Penzance Convention was held at The Exchange in Princes Street, the former telephone exchange in Penzance transformed by MUMA (McInnes, Usher, McKnight Architects) and opened in the summer of 2007.

Framing The Penzance Convention, and deepening exploration of the theme, The Exchange presented an exhibition of projected image work in the weeks running up to the event, with support from the LUMA Foundation.

Abigail Reynolds worked with volunteers to transform the gallery space at The Exchange for The Penzance Convention and to construct the cinematic environment for the Extraction: Projection exhibition. Entitled Extraction/ Exchange, the installation referred to disparate sources, from picture palaces to modernist architecture, as well as bringing in local references such as Gwennap Pit and the Minack Theatre.

The following selection of cafés, restaurants and pubs in Penzance was compiled for visiting delegates. All are within walking distance of The Exchange and other Convention venues.