Show image caption Yemi Awosile, Installation view of Printed Whispers at OSE, Margate, 2019. Margate NOW. Photo by David Levene.

Statement from 1927, Open School East and Turner Contemporary

1927Open School East and Turner Contemporary are three Margate-based arts organisations, known as National Portfolio Organisations, funded through Arts Council England.  We are passionate about Margate’s future and recognise the vital role that the arts play on individuals and the wider community.

Through collaboration, we have learnt that we all share a deep commitment to engaging with our community through the arts, supporting artists and developing creativity. Whether we are inspiring local children and young people to lead and be creative or championing artists and supporting their development, we want to strengthen Margate’s creative ecology.

Whilst Margate has a thriving arts scene, we are all very conscious that the creative ecology is fragile and that the impact of Covid 19 has affected all areas of contemporary life. We recognise that this is an evolving situation, but we are committed to working collaboratively to support artists, makers and practitioners. We believe that by doing so, together, we can help to safeguard the cultural infrastructure of Thanet.

Each organisation has already committed to support artists and audiences in several ways but over the next few weeks, we hope to be able to deliver some new activities collaboratively.

1927, Open School East, Turner Contemporary