Turner Contemporary partners with local school and Müll Club for the Great British Beach Clean
On Friday 20 September, Turner Contemporary will host a special event to mark the Great British Beach Clean, underlining its commitment to the environment and its role within Margate’s unique coastal community. Thirty Year 6 students from Salmestone School will participate in a beach clean at Margate Main Sands, followed by a recycling workshop and a plastic moulding session.
Turner Contemporary has a renewed focus on environmental issues that influence its gallery programming and foster collaboration between artists, educators, and environmental partners. This event reflects that commitment by bringing together local students and the Margate-based recycling company – Müll Club – to address the issue of plastic pollution.
During the event, students will remove plastic waste from Margate’s beach while learning about the environmental impact of litter. Following the beach clean, they will take part in a live recycling workshop led by Müll Club, which specialises in transforming discarded plastic into practical products. The workshop will give students a hands-on experience of the recycling process, allowing them to turn collected plastic into unique key rings designed especially for the event.
Thomas Platten, Headteacher of Salmestone Primary School said:
“Salmestone Primary School is delighted to be partnering with Turner Contemporary and Müll Club. It is our aim to engage all our children in their learning, developing a love of learning and of their local natural environment. This is a great opportunity for our students to take part in a national initiative and learn more about the recycling process.”
This initiative is part of Turner Contemporary’s broader strategy to embed environmental consciousness into all aspects of its work. By collaborating with local schools and environmental organisations, the gallery aims to inspire the next generation to take an active role in combating ecological challenges.
Notes to editors
About Turner Contemporary
Turner Contemporary is one of the UK’s leading art galleries. Founded in 2001 to celebrate JMW Turner’s connection to Margate, the gallery was designed by David Chipperfield and officially opened in 2011. Turner Contemporary’s mission extends beyond showcasing world-class exhibitions; it plays a pivotal role in driving the social and economic regeneration of Margate and East Kent, transforming lives in one of the most deprived areas of the UK.
Since opening, Turner Contemporary has welcomed over 4.1 million visitors, contributed more than £80 million to the Kent economy, and connected with thousands of local residents through its world-class creative learning programme.
About Müll Club
Müll Club is an initiative focused on recycling; particularly emphasising creative uses for discarded materials. They aim to transform waste into valuable resources, promoting environmental awareness through artistic projects, workshops, and collaborations. Müll Club encourages community participation by organising events where people can learn about recycling, upcycling, and sustainable living, fostering a culture of conscious consumption and responsible waste management.
About Great British Beach Clean
The Great British Beach Clean is an annual event organized by the Marine Conservation Society, where thousands of volunteers’ clean beaches across the UK, collecting valuable data on the types of litter found to help inform environmental policy and action.