Out of Place, a new centre for contemporary arts is opening at Mount Pleasant Eco Park, Porthtowan, starting with an exhibition of mixed media work.

Artists Christine Allen of Art Space gallery and Jane Beecroft, from Falmouth, with John Marshall of Monkey Puzzle Repro Art and other local arts practitioners aim to create a forum for artists to promote their work as well as a venue for education, employment and creative stimulation.

Out of Place is calling all artists, arts practitioners and friends of the arts to go along and experience the site and the potential opportunities if offers. "It's all about creativity; contemporary, different, unusual materials and media or whatever the site inspires," said Maria Hicks.

Mount Pleasant Eco Park is set on a site of 42 acres, on a hill top with spectacular coastal views, surrounded by historic mining territory in an area with SSSI status. The park centres around six industrial units housed in the largest sustainably built, rammed earth structure in the UK, with a timber barn workshop, a cob courtyard, an ampitheatre and masses of wide open space.

It is claimedit is the largest load-bearing rammed earth structure in the UK. Locally sourced materials and labour is used where possibl, sheepswool insulation is used as are recycled car tyre as roof tiles.

There is a waste biomass fuelled heating system, reclaimed timber is used where possible, and a solar hot water and rainwater harvesting system is in operation.

Placement of the gallery at the Eco Park provides a context to develop an amalgamation of art, environment and technology, says Ms Hicks. "The park is a magnet to visitors interested in sustainable building and other environmental issues and it is a fantastic location for artistic events both aesthetically and practically." It even had environmentally friendly toilets, she added.

The first exhibition at Out of Place will be "Diversity", opening on Saturday April 14 for three weeks. On Sunday, April 15 there will be a Greek Easter Celebration for artists and friends to have a social time and see the potential of the site and gallery.

Art on show will include textiles, ceramics, sculpture, and digital art as well as paintings, all by local artists including, Linda Styles, Basma Ashworth, Christine Allen, Jane Beecroft, Nik Strangelove, Sarah Goldbart, Susan Spooner, Sarah Bayley, Dot Searle, Donna Mitchell, Belinda Whiting and Julian St Clair.

A grand opening is planned for June.