The role of formal and informal learning

• Institutions need to develop closer working relationships with professionals from the cultural and creative industries.

Thanet College has increasing links with businesses but this could go further.

• Consortiums can help develop relationships between the two sectors.
• Starting up new courses are expensive and time consuming.
• As institutions are becoming more demand lead is becomes harder to introduce new courses when there is little understanding of the demand for them.
• Informal learning in partnership with the formal sector can offer an insight into the demand for such courses and make a direct contribution to the cultural vision.

How can the formal and informal learning sectors be dovetailed to interface more effectively?

• Wider age groups and demographics need to be considered:
• Offer life-long learning for older generations.
• Provide learning opportunities for disengaged children and young people.
• Offer skills development to those unemployed or on benefit.
• Institutions can share activities where parents and children, communities can be creative together.
• A parent or adult can learn from a child’s creativity.There needs to be better communication between institutions so not to replicate projects and perpetuate the nature of social divide in Thanet.
• There needs to be a more developed relationship with the local press so they can start sharing positive aspects of Margate and encourage visitor even from neighbouring towns.

Visibility for Regeneration

The use of ‘formal’ learning spaces can be unappealing to many so we need to consider using other more popular venues e.g. the arcades.

• This would increase the possibility of transferring ‘knowledge capital’ into problem areas.


• These problem areas need to be identified and targeted as spaces for positive use.


• We need a vision that also educates people on how to use it.


• They have to believe in it and be committed to it for the vision to work.

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