OPEN SPACE: A VISUAL SYNOPSIS

All scribes by Joel Cooper

1. CULTURE AND ART ARE FOR EVERYONE

Margate Open Space Event Group 1
Session 1

Culture and art are for everyone. How do we engage all communities? This is not just for artists – it’s for all.

Discussion led by Carla Wenham-Jones

Key discussion points/themes:
- Elitism within the arts & culture: importance of ownership; engagement; accessibility.
- Communication: on local and national levels; its role in raising awareness; source of information.
- The case for arts & culture specifically in Margate: history/heritage; funding; sustainability.
- Public/local engagement: making use of local resources; cultural diversity within Margate.
- Entrepreneurial opportunities within Margate: their link to arts & culture.


Action points:
1. Eliminate elitist status of arts & culture and ensure its sustainability – address exclusion and lack of engagement in arts & culture.
2. Use of multiple media forms for access and communication (e.g. website devoted to Margate’s arts & culture, as well as alternative non-internet based forms of communication).
3. Key role of Turner Contemporary in establishing Margate’s arts & culture scene and its use in effective communication.
4. Funding – seek alternative sources, also bearing in mind future sustainability.

2. GALLERY SPACE FOR LOCAL ARTISTS

Margate Open Space Event Group 1
Session 2

Discussion led by Bill Pitt

Key discussion points/themes:
- Lack of available/suitable/affordable work space for artists in Margate (and Thanet as a whole)
- Thorough discussion on Harbour Arms and the possibilities it displays in addressing the lack of artists’ work space
- Is there a market for art work in Thanet?
- The Turner Contemporary’s and UCCA’s key role in addressing these issues
- Definitions of ‘affordable work space’ and ‘local artists’

Action points:
1. Identify what is public and what is private available space for artists (in Margate and Thanet)
2. Make use of Harbour Space (they are currently working on an open agenda)
3. Affordability linked to planning use of space
4. Seminars for artists to learn how to negotiate space. Give skills, not space. (note: Businesslilnk in collaboration with UCCA have done this in the past)
5. Identify external funding sources
6. Develop a mechanism for interacting with local authority to influence planning process
7. Bring abandoned properties back for artists to use

3. MARGATE ROCKS - IS IT IMPORTANT FOR MARGATE?

Margate Open Space Event Group 1
Session 3

Discussion led by Jessica Baum

Key discussion points/themes:
- Margate Rock’s background, importance and future
- How can MR be sustainable?

Action points:
1. Revise programme/budget in light of less funding for this year
2. Crisis meeting with funders
3. Capacity – "Train to Gain" (LSC). Find out who the Train to Gain broker for Margate is and initiate contact
4. Other funding sources/sponsors eg. developers
5. Continue or not?

4. HOW CAN MARGATE COMPETE AGAINST OTHER SEASIDE TOWNS IN KENT?

Margate Open Space Event Group 2
Session 1

Discussion led by Rupert Davis

Key discussion points/themes:
Assets that make Margate unique compared to other towns in East Kent
- ‘Brand’ of Margate
- Geography – sandy beaches, bay, climate, green spaces
- Architecture and compact Old Town
- Cultural community – vibrant local inhabitants, nascent but growing community
- Turner Contemporary – needs to be utilised as a landmark for Margate to draw visitors who will then stay
- Need to preserve affordable space for galleries and artist’s work space to entice more artists to Margate

What Margate is lacking:
- evening economy
- music scene
- series of exciting and accessible events
- amenities such as public toilets and good quality accommodation
- link between the beach and other attractions to draw visitors from the beach into Margate.
- small scale creative industries
- mix of national and independent retailers
- high quality public sector realm

Action Points:
1. A co-ordinated cultural offer is needed to link together towns in East Kent
2. Margate needs a focused, coherent vision of art in the public realm which needs to include a brief for artists applying for funding or answering tenders to connect all artistic input
3. Development money is needed to preserve Margate’s assets, to protect Margate’s unique buildings from conversion into commercial properties, and for the development of Dream Land to conserve the character of Margate

5. EXODUS: HOW DO WE MOVE ON? LESSONS TO BE LEARNT

Margate Open Space Event Group 2
Session 2

Discussion led by Claudia Leaf

Key discussion points/themes:
- Right project / wrong time? Was the risk element too great? Was it the right time for Margate to do an ambitious large scale project when it has good quality small scale local work?
- With the burning of Gormley’s Waste Man, Margate gained no permanent, iconic landmark from the project. The limitations of one-off events has highlighted the need for a permanent piece of public art and a series of 10 or 12 good events per year in order to aid regeneration.
- Problem of the Caroline Deeds Channel 4 documentary Waste Man which focused on the negative aspects of Margate, perpetuating stereotypes and emphasising decay.
- The community has been left with the feeling that the institutions and funding bodies involved did not see the project through to the end. There was no report on the project or public forum to discuss what went wrong so mistakes were never identified and learnt from.
- Margate does not self-promote. Small scale, good quality work taking place in Margate is not being communicated internationally, nationally, or even in Margate.

Action Points:
1. In order for the lessons from Exodus to be put into practice there needs to be a public forum made up of artists and members of the public from all backgrounds to evaluate mistakes.
2. To facilitate learning an artistic network needs to be set up, through proper organisation of the informal one which already exists.
3. A clear, coherent and open artistic strategy needs to be developed to co-ordinate access to funding.
4. Margate needs to develop a marketing strategy to communicate projects both within Margate, nationally and internationally.

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.