Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
However, the estate faces a serious challenge.
Parts of the roof are more than 150 years old and the estate says these are urgently in need of replacement to protect its collections.
The gallery is appealing to the public for support in raising a total of £90,000.
This year, the museum and gallery is celebrating 75 years since it transformed from a private estate into a cultural institution.
The venue, initially constructed in 1865 for merchant John Richards Branwell, was purchased as a public War Memorial in 1946.
Its transformation was initiated on June 24, 1949, by Sir Cyril Fox, when it opened as a district museum.
The estate, previously bordering the Morrab House Estate, originally had no road access.
However, upon its sale, following a public appeal initiated by Mayor Robert Thomas, it survived a threat of demolition and was converted into a house museum and art centre.
Substantial funding facilitated an extension and redevelopment of the venue in 1997, ensuring the property maintained its original aesthetic feel.
The gallery's origins can be traced back to the collections of the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society from 1839.
After relocation and a period of forced hibernation caused by World War II, the collections found a permanent home in Penlee House.
Penzance Town Council retains ownership of the 15-acre estate, hosting the gallery and museum in the elegant Victorian building.
The Penlee House Gallery and Museum today prides itself as a home for the Newlyn School and Lamorna paintings and hosts an impressive collection of local archaeology, history and photography.
Cllr Joan Beveridge, chair of the council’s arts and culture committee, said: "Penlee House Gallery and Museum doesn’t dwell on the past, despite an impressive history, it has embraced modern technology and social media, inviting visitors, especially younger people, to not only engage with the artworks, but more importantly, to create their own art."
Donations to the roof fund are welcome by the gallery in person or through: platform.nationalfundingscheme.org/PENLEE?charity=PENLEE
In the meantime, the gallery continues with plans to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
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