6. WHOSE CULTURE AND VISION IS IT ANYWAY?

Margate Open Space Event Group 2
Session 3

Discussion led by Phil Oldfield

Key discussion points/themes:
- The cultural vision for Margate is tied in with institutions, such as the Council, and their vision of culture and regeneration.
- Thanet culture is tied in with the business culture. Art is under economic pressure and is increasingly commercial in order to meet the demands of businesses.
- There is no cohesive idea of what culture is in Margate. It is diverse and formed by people passing through as well as residents. These multiple cultural ideas and diversity are positive but an overarching cultural strategy is also needed.
- Margate needs more risk taking in culture and art – risk taking is the only way to grow, but how do we allow this in our community?
- Lack of belief in Margate by its residents – people no longer perceive its assets and potential. People need to visualise regeneration.

Action Points:
1. Communication – the artistic community needs a voice and there needs to be increased communication between institutions and artists.
2. Have to create a place where businesses and people want to live and increase footfall by use of arts.
3. Margate needs an arts festival with popular icons and popular culture that will engage everyone, including the marginalised.

7. FUTURE FOR ARTIST LED SPACES IN MARGATE

Margate Open Space Event Group 3
Session 1

Discussion led by Limbo

Key discussion points/themes:
- It’s hard to organise local artists
- It’s hard to get funding
- The question was raised: how are artists valued? What does Margate need to be contemporary?
- “Our generation was the backbone for regeneration. Now, 30 years on, we are under threat of regeneration. The worst case scenario is that we are going to be wiped out by regeneration.”
- “The council don’t care about investment and it seems as though they are only interested in investing when they are able to buy the building. Their motive is regeneration and economy, meaning that the artist can’t be sustained.
- People are wanting and demanding different things. Artists are willing to work on commissioned work for nothing- they are clamouring over each other to work for free. This shows that artists are not valued at all. This needs to be recognised and considered before we start producing art for art’s sake.

Action points:
1. Initiatives have to be provided for things to flourish.
2. Artists need to be recognised as one, otherwise there will be conflicting communities. It’s about networking or trying to find a network.
3. Working creatively with people can spark interest and more funding.
4. We need to create a group of like-minded artists to come together on a regular basis.

8. YOUTH CULTS

Margate Open Space Event Group 3
Session 2

Discussion led by Nick Dermott

Key discussion points/themes:
- Britain invented youth cults and Margate pioneered the mods and rockers back in the 1960’s. It’s what Margate was known for
- Everyone under the age of 65 belonged to one
- All youth cults have music attached to them: teddy boys, mods and rockers, punks, skin heads, glam rock, new age etc.
- Cult is always evolving and always acquiring new members and young people are apart of the evolving of society.These cults are fundamental to Englishness and we should celebrate cults and differences.

Main idea:
- The idea is to make Dreamland the centre for a 'music museum' showing the history of youth cults and music, and a venue for musicians and bands to come and play music.
- This is something that The Pie Factory- and the Youth Music Action Zone would really like to be a part of.
- There is a very live music scene in Margate e.g. the Lido and Britannia pub are currently venues for presenting new music/acts.
- We think nostalgia in past youth cults could benefit Margate. There is now a mutual respect across the cults and a great level of sophistication in visuals and sounds with youth cults could be provided at dreamland.
- A museum of youth cults is a good way for kids to know what has happened before as it will show the history of music and will help them understand the current gang rivalry situation that is occurring. Also kids will become ‘accidental historians’.
- There is possible funding here and Margate could be an entertainment Mecca!

Action points:
1.The project needs a board, a constitution and an organisation - lets meet asap to start the process

2. Getting Dreamland planning
3. Application for lottery fund
4. Organise a fundraising concert to get things started

9. SPACE BEYOND BUILDINGS

Margate Open Space Event Group 3
Session 3

Discussion led by Chris Tipping

Key discussion points/themes:
- Bob Geldof recently described Margate as ugly.
- We need to invigorate common spaces in Margate, as these spaces are not defined.
- The biggest thing about Margate is the sea and land and we need to make unison between natural landscape and man made landscape and this could be done with interaction technology.
- The ugliness of the man made landscape detracts from the natural landscape that is beautiful and we have the opportunity to re-engage with it
- If you take away the boundaries you allow people to interact.
- The seafront has the most barriers where there shouldn’t be any. The old town doesn’t have any boundaries and this should be brought to the front.
- Technology could help bring down these barriers by making Margate one big communal space through Intelligent Way Finding. By doing this we can do away with conventional signage. By de-cluttering the landscape people are able to move in an intuitive way.
- There could be a way of using natural landscape to interpret the space. E.g. The sea plays on tides and shifts and natural things could be tied into navigation.
- The question was raised as to if these ideas were far-fetched? The answer was no, as examples of this have been found in Southampton. At the moment Interactive Way Finding is being used that sends information about the area to your phone as you walk by.
- There are two levels that have been addressed here: nature and technology. We need to marry these two together. By taking risks and working towards regeneration, we can be bold and try something different.
- We need to readdress the boundaries between the town and the sea.
- Green landscape tends to be ignored. In the past civic pride was always expressed through seaside gardens. Now we need to evolve that and see the potential in it for the future.
- This could be achieved through our Squares - we have some really fantastic squares such as ‘Hawley’ and ‘Cecil’ so we need to invest in the quality of those spaces. By doing this it could be an investment in the property around it.
- Margate is made up of different areas and this has made it disjointed. There is a need to hold them together through healthier and transitional spaces. When you piece them together they make a substantial space.

Action points:
1. We should start to tackle Cecil Square. By doing this it would make a big statement to the other areas and squares.
2. Civic pride: tackle one area at a time, which can spin out if you do it well!
3. We need to exploit technology in an innovative way.
4. We need to start de-cluttering spaces (e.g. Ashley ring road- once that momentum gets going Margate will feel they can do that too!)
5. Camaraderie is needed and important
6. Someone in authority has to think about what is right for everybody
7. We need watertight research to follow things through that would make a good reference document

It’s very important that this is fun as most areas are successful in regenerating if they can bring children into it. Here is an opportunity to get the energy back!

10. SIGNAGE TO ART AND CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES

Margate Open Space Event Group 4

Session 1

The use of signage and open space for art and cultural heritage of the Thanet Coast

Discussion led by Malcolm Kirkaldie

Key discussion points/themes:
- Out of date signs
- Internal and external town signage needs work as it is confusing and out of date
- Current signage does not comply with disability accessibility
- An identity is needed for the area - residents are not relating to the space they live in

Action Points:
1. Conduct an audit to identify all out of date signs and where new signage is needed
2. Lobby Thanet District Council, Kent County Council and Kent Highways to make changes to signage
3. Margate Civic Society representative to bring up signage issues with the Property Services Forum

11. PROTECTING OUR GREEN SPACES

Margate Open Space Event Group 4

Session 2

Discussion led by Margaret Main

Key discussion points/themes:
- Conservation officer for green spaces needed for Thanet
- Too much focus on built environment and not enough on green spaces
- Flower beds and topiary have disappeared in favour of low cost / low maintenance gardens
- Council needs to publicise good works as the public don’t know about some of the positive work that is being done

Action Points:
1. Conservation officer needed at the Council
2. Educate adults and children in conservation - through schools and publicity
3. Small grant fund for green spaces that community groups can bid into

12. OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIVITIES THAT BRING GENERATIONS TOGETHER

Margate Open Space Event Group 4
Session 3

Discussion led by Vera Elliott

Key discussion points/themes:
- Community spirit is missing
- Older people are victims of ageism
- Older people fear the youth
- Make use of established groups to promote exchange of activities
- English culture is not family orientated

Action Points:
1. Mobilise schools and community groups to work together
2. Ensure that this issue is part of the Margate cultural vision
3. Arrange a meeting between Youth Council and Thanet Senior Citizens to make a start on addressing this issue