Fluxus Cornwall

16/09/2026

We’ve been quiet on here for a while, but we have some news: we’ve got the old HSBC bank on Fore Street in Redruth! 🧡

We’re turning the former banking hall into a community workshop with hand-built games, machines and inventions. It will be a place to get together, share skills and build things, and somewhere people can come to have a go at what we’ve made.

If you came to Invention Club at The Art Room or visited our Cornish Contraptions exhibition, you’ll have some idea of what we’re aiming for. This gives us a more permanent home, with room to work on bigger and better projects and somewhere to have all our tools in the same place.

Many of you will know the building as the Mining Exchange Studios. We’re grateful for their encouragement, and to Redruth Revival, who own the building, for helping us make it our new home.

There’s still painting, flooring and plenty of other work to do. We don’t have an opening date yet, but we’ll share progress here as we get things ready. There’s also a bank vault, a secret corridor and a creepy basement. More on those another time…

Could you help us with practical work, help with materials or introduce us to a business that might sponsor some of it? Please send us a message!

We’ve also launched a crowdfunder to help get the space ready, buy tools and equipment, and restart Invention Club:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/redruth-workshop

A donation or a share would be very welcome. We’re looking forward to getting people together and making things again!

22/03/2026

Spent some time at Magic of Movement at Falmouth Art Gallery this weekend.

Automata have this strange way of pulling people in. Simple mechanisms, but loads of character, storytelling, and moments that just make you stop and watch.

This exhibition explores how movement and interaction can spark memories and connections, especially through their work with memory cafés across Cornwall. You can see pieces from makers like Paul Spooner, Carlos Zapata and Fi Henshall, alongside paintings from the gallery’s collection.

We’re not involved in this one, just went to see it, but it’s well worth a visit, and it's free entry.

Nice bonus… Fi was there fixing one of her pieces when we visited.

If watching this has got you thinking about making your own, Fi is running a two-day Bird Automata Workshop in April at The Art Room in Redruth.

• Build your own moving bird
• Learn the mechanisms behind automata
• No experience needed

It’s a rare chance to learn directly from her, right here in Cornwall.

More info and booking - artroomredruth.co.uk/events/fibird/

09/03/2026

A brilliant St Piran’s Day in Redruth ☀️

It was great to be back out in town on Saturday for the St Piran’s Festival, bringing a few Fluxus creations along to the bottom of Fore Street.

There were loads of people around all day, with the parade passing right by us. It felt like a really positive day for Redruth.

Most importantly, people played some games and we got to speak to people interested in joining in.

Our Bash Box was played more than 200 times during the day. The record is still 32 hits, which nobody managed to beat this time!

We also tested a new game called Catch-a-Quack, a carnival-style duck hooping game that worked surprisingly well for a first outing.

Fluxus is all about building playful, slightly ridiculous machines and games and putting them out into the world for people to try. It was nice to see people of all ages having a go again.

We’re already working on a few more homemade carnival games which should appear at other Redruth events later in the year.

21/02/2026

Two days making a bird automata of your own design under the tutelage of the amazing .henshall.automata anyone?

A rare opportunity to learn from Fi in Cornwall so grab a space while you can!

More info on the Art Room Redruth website under Art Room for Adults / Guest Workshops

20/02/2026

We are VERY excited that Fi Henshall Automata will be in Redruth this April running a two day automata workshop at The Art Room

Spaces are limited, so if this is your thing do grab one or share with someone who would love this chance!

Here's the link for more info: https://artroomredruth.co.uk/events/fibird/

12/02/2026

A small build from this afternoon 👀

This laser-cut box houses a DIY digital departures board, powered by an ESP32 and a bit of code.

This is exactly the kind of hands-on, practical creative tech we’re aiming to get back to very soon. Designing, coding, laser cutting, problem-solving. Making things that actually exist in the real world. Useful things. Fun things.

If you’d like to be involved when sessions restart, sign up to our newsletter - https://fluxuscornwall.co.uk/.

We’re hoping to share some positive news very soon.

19/12/2025