U Studio Festival is the annual youth-led arts festival at Tate St Ives. Join us for performances, music and making led by young creatives.
Programme of events:
ROADSIDE MAGIC PROCESSION
Foyle Studio and Galleries, 12.00 and 13.30 (procession lasts approx. 20 min)
Join a joyful, mythical and magical procession featuring costumes, props and live music.
DRAG PERFORMANCE BY PINK BABY AND SCAMP FROM BLOOOM CORNWALL
Gallery 8, 15.00- 15.30
Performances by Pink Baby and Scamp from Blooom Cornwall featuring Tate Collective Producers.
ROADSIDE MAGIC COSTUME STUDIO
Foyle Studio, 11.00-16.00
Drop in to the Roadside Magic Costume Studio. Explore and try on pieces from artist Libby Bove’s collection of Roadside Magic Costumes and create your own costumes in a relaxed studio setting.
THE MUSEUM OF ROADSIDE MAGIC
Barnoon Car Park (meet in gallery 4 for access via lift), 11.00-16.00
The Museum of Roadside Magic is a travelling archive, documenting the use of magical practice, folk custom and plant knowledge, in vehicular maintenance, repair and journey making. It is the only known archive of its kind and holds an extensive collection of artefacts, costumes and photographs. The displays show a great breadth and variety of roadlore practices including Gasket Dancing, Pipe Dressing, Diesel Clapping and the mysterious Brydes of Tacho.
The Museum of Roadside Magic’s Roving exhibition is the culmination of a dedicated period of research by museum custodian Libby Bove. The initial work has developed into a collaborative project, incorporating research, performance and storytelling.
SODAI WORKSHOP
YOUR SPACE Gallery 9, 11.00-16.00
Explore the traditional Lithuanian craft of Sodai straw gardens. Weave and construct geometric hanging decorations using straw. Sodai gardens are believed to reflect the pattern of the universe and are associated with well-being and spirituality.
MYTH EXCHANGE TRAIL
Galleries 2-8, 11.00-16.00
Follow the myth exchange trail to create and swap imagined folklore, adorn yourself with UV runes and relax with guided sensory drawing.
U Studio is curated by Tate Collective Producers at Tate St Ives. The Festival is aimed at age 15-25, though all are welcome.
The full programme will be shared on this page in February 2026.
16-25? Sign up for a free Tate Collective account and get discounts in our shop and café.
Libby Bove is a multi-disciplinary artist, designer, and folklorist. Her work is centred around ideas which reposition folk custom and magical practice back at the forefront of daily life. Drawing on archival methodologies and documentary, her work slips between fact and fiction. By employing traditional craft processes, plausibility is woven into constructed myths, transposing ideas of ancient customs, traditions and rituals into incongruous contemporary settings, non-existent pasts, and speculative future landscapes.
Blooom Cornwall is a trans-led, community-based arts and events company creating accessible events and welcoming spaces with and for marginalised people. Run by Fran Northcott and Scamp Niemz, we produce and host community-focused events including workshops, artist talks, drag shows, cabaret nights, and our annual trans retreat day. Our work is rooted in collaboration, joy, and resistance, using art and performance as tools for self-expression, protest and centring underrepresented voices across Cornwall and beyond.
U Studio is supported by Palais Platform, the young person programme of the Palais De Danse project, made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. The project has also received support from a number of trusts, foundations and individuals, including The Headley Trust, The Wolfson Foundation, The Bowness Family, The Hepworth Estate, The Porthmeor Fund, and The Bridget Riley Art Foundation.
The Museum of Roadside Magic is a travelling museum display located in the back of a converted van. There are a set of 4 steps to enter the Museum of Roadside Magic display space. It can be accessed via Barnoon Car Park at the Tate St Ives Loading Bay or alternatively via our staffed lift in Gallery 4.
Various seating will be available for performances and ear-defenders are available. We have a mental health first aider and a first aider onsite. Please speak to a member of our team for any assistance.
Tate St Ives is located on Porthmeor Beach. There is a ramp up to the gallery entrance alongside stairs with a handrail.
There are lifts to all Levels of the gallery, or alternatively you can take the stairs.
- Accessible and standard toilets are on Level 3, next to Gallery 6.
- A Changing Places toilet is on Level 3, next to Gallery 1.
- Ear defenders can be borrowed from the information desk.
To help plan your visit to Tate St Ives, have a look at our visual story. It includes photographs and information of what you can expect from a visit to the gallery.
For more information before your visit:
- Email visiting.stives@tate.org.uk
- Call +44 (0)173 679 6226
