Welcome to Margate Creates! This is my first post and I wanted to tell you about why I created this space, what to expect and a bit about me.
Not a day passes without one of my friends sending me an article about Margate. Almost exclusively, they are about how the town has morphed into the most desirable place in the country. They tell me how fortunate I am to live in the area and I gently agree, trying not to sound too smug.
I have seen such transformations before, having been raised in Islington and then living for decades in Brighton, both of which once had areas within which I would not have stepped foot in at night. Now though, they have been sandblasted, shod of their grimy exteriors, transmuted into bastions of the brave new worlds that they now inhabit. I am still mildly shocked every time someone mentions how desirable Hoxton has become and I shall surely always be.
In some areas, change is gradual, with no single factor driving it. Occasionally, there is a great event that foreshadows the burgeoning of an area, case in point being the Turner Contemporary Galley here in Margate. No one can deny the impact of the Turner. It stands there atop the harbour, welcoming visitors from all over the world. Numerous studies show how local investment in the arts can transform areas in decline. From purely financial metrics to SROI (Social Return on Investment), in addition to Margate, Bilbao, Glasgow, Christchurch, Liverpool, have had communities transformed by the emergence of a nascent art scene.
Yet, it’s what comes next that truly shapes a town or city. Had the Turner opened, brought tourists, and then seen them leave, the boost to the town might have been short-lived. Without the smaller spots that emerged from its shadows, Margate may have never become the place that we love today. I still get a thrill when I find another art space, tucked away up Northdown Road or in one of the streets off the Old Town. As much as I love the flagships of The Turner and The Carl Freedman Gallery, the smaller venues allow you an intimate experience that stays with you. Whilst we have these beautiful beacons that shine the light far and wide, it is the people that follow the light and that inhabit these spaces who are the true pioneers of change.
And of course, I can hardly introduce my tiny online space about art in Margate without mentioning the wonder that is Dame Tracey Emin, Freewoman of Margate. Tracey is synonymous with the town and correctly so. Her enthusiasm for Margate is unparalleled, her commitment to lifting the whole town up is incredible and her generosity to allow art to flourish, astounding. I walked around the recent end-of-year TEAR (Tracey Emin Artist Residency) show in Victoria Road, marvelling at the innovative techniques and unique perspectives these artists brought. Their time under Tracey’s guidance clearly elevated their work. These artists arrived with talent, but eighteen months under Tracey’s guidance elevated them further.
So this is Margate Creates! I am an art enthusiast, an occasional actual artist, a writer, a person who wants to find all the beauty in the world. This little corner of the universe is where I will endeavour to engage with the art scene, highlight what’s new and enjoy immersing myself in the artistic splendour of Margate. There will be previews and reflections on shows, artist and gallery profiles and broader articles about how Margate fits into the national and international arts narrative. In time, I hope to expand the scope beyond the visual arts to literature, spoken word, music and perhaps the culinary side of Margate (as I consider this an art form, even if it doesn’t fit within the usual definition).