The inaugural Falmouth Lecture takes place on November 26, at the town's most ancient scholarly institution, The Poly, formerly the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society.

The lecture is entitled, Falmouth Maritime Masters: 1880-1930 and will see Dr Catherine Wallace looking at the maritime painters who lived and worked in Falmouth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and depicted working boats, yachting regattas and the last days of the tall ships. Artists such as Charles Napier Hemy, Henry Scott Tuke and William Ayerst Ingram will be featured amongst others.

Dr Wallace says: "I am honoured to be invited to be the first Falmouth lecturer. The artists Henry Scott Tuke and Charles Napier Hemy and their maritime paintings helped put Falmouth on the art historical map in much the same way Stanhope Forbes and Walter Langley did for Newlyn. It is great to have this opportunity to share such wonderful paintings with a wider audience."

This first event has been jointly organised by The Poly and National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Dr Tehmina Goskar, senior curator at the Maritime Museum says: "The Falmouth Lectures will take place twice a year and offer an opportunity for local communities and interested visitors to come together at an event that focuses attention on a combination of two or more themes which embrace Falmouth's identity as a modern cultural and intellectual centre, namely maritime, heritage and art."

The Poly Joint Chairperson, Ruth Bedingham, says: "The Poly is very excited about this initiative, which will bring together some of Falmouth's great cultural institutions, celebrating our shared interests and heritage. "

The lecture, entitled Falmouth Maritime Masters: 1880-1930 is from 7.30pm on Thursday, November 26 at The Poly. Tickets costs £8 for adults and £6 for concessions. To book tickets please visit thepoly.org or call 01326 319461. The next Falmouth Lecture will take place at the Maritime Museum in May 2016.