Family activities at Tate St Ives. Photo © Ian Kingsnorth
This summer, Tate St Ives is launching a brand-new programme for families, inspired by the Cornish word for family: Teylu (pronounced Tay-loo). The programme kicks off from 27 July to 31 August with the school holiday programme STUDIO DO.
Designed for all kinds of kin - from toddlers and teenagers to parents, carers, and chosen family - Teylu is a year-round programme of creative activities, artist-led workshops, and playful experiences. It builds on Tate St Ives’ long-standing commitment to intergenerational learning, while introducing new events and formats shaped by local voices and contemporary artists.
“Teylu is about making space for families of all kinds to explore, imagine and be creative together,” said Jenny Tipton, Curator of Families, Schools and Young People at Tate St Ives. “Whether it’s making art with an artist, sand sculpting on the beach, or simply taking time out in the galleries, we want families to feel this space is theirs.”
At the heart of the programme is a new Teylu Visiting Artist programme. Each year, an artist will work onsite in the Foyle Studio to co-create an immersive artwork with local children, families, and community groups. The first artist is Josie KO an emerging contemporary artist, who will be in residence from 24 to 28 September 2025, culminating in a special £1 Family Day on Sunday 28 September.
Alongside the visiting artist project, Teylu brings a rich mix of regular events designed to support playful, creative time together. Each spring, Teylu Festival fills the building with artist pop-ups and hands-on activities, inviting children and their grown-ups to explore the themes of exhibitions in imaginative and accessible ways.
In the summer, Beach Art Explorers takes the programme outdoors, with artist-led sessions for 5–12 year olds on the sands of Porthmeor Beach - combining creativity with the natural beauty and inspiration of the Cornish coast.
During school holidays, STUDIO DO transforms the Foyle Studio into a space for families to make, rest and experiment at their own pace - whether that's building, drawing, or simply taking time out together. During October half term, artist duo, Leap then Look, will be taking over STUDIO DO with a new play based sculptural installation.
For the youngest visitors, Toddle Tate offers monthly sessions full of colour, texture and movement, designed for under 5s and their grown-ups to enjoy side-by-side, both in the gallery and out in the local community.
With many events low cost for families, including £1 entry days and free access for Local Pass holders and under 18s, Teylu is part of a wider commitment to accessibility and inclusion at Tate St Ives.