Art gallery in Ramsgate to close after 13 years of exhibitions, charity fundraising and community support

It will mark the end of an era on August 12 when the York Street Gallery in Ramsgate shuts its doors after more than 13 years in the town.

Owner Mike Samson will shut up shop so he can retire -for a second time!

After taking early retirement from the paper industry Mike and wife Lizzie first opened the gallery in May 2012 to support local artists and creatives and offer display and exhibition space on a weekly basis.

It was an instant success with the local art community as the space offered something completely different and has been fully booked every week since opening, apart from when Mike took the odd holiday.

During this time nearly 700 exhibitions have been hosted by the gallery, showing work by many hundreds of people.

Throughout the years the gallery has supported local schools, students, art clubs and groups, charities and the individual artists.

Being a supporter of Ramsgate RNLI, the gallery and its customers and friends have raised many hundreds of pounds for the cause.

Apart from the exhibitions the gallery has also hosted many art classes for locals.

Mike, who had previously been in the military, says the ethos of the gallery has always been it should be accessible to everyone, regardless of being a professional or local amateur painter.

In recent years the gallery has attracted exhibitions from artists from throughout the South of England, including artists from St. Ives in Cornwall and London.

Mike’s own first effort at painting was at Newington primary school, where he won first prize in an art competition. When he returned to the school to enrol his own children 20 years later, a teacher asked how his painting was going. He hadn’t picked up a paintbrush for decades, but the headmaster ran an art club and insisted he join, marking the start of his successful, and independent, arts career.

Mike said: “I would like to think the gallery has served the community well and its success is solely due to the support of the artists and the visitors who come to the gallery, some every week.

“It’s been a great artistic community hub and friends and visitors know they can drop in for a chat or a coffee any time. I’ve made many friends over the years and not just locals!  Some people come in every year from throughout the UK, Europe and even the USA when visiting Ramsgate.

“It’s the end of an era and a big part of life, but the time is right for me to retire and spend more time with my family. Being in the gallery six days a week nearly every week of the year has been a big commitment and my family have been very supportive and patient.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported the gallery over the years, especially all the artists and creatives, without them there could never have been a gallery.

“Recently someone asked me what I’ll do when I retire. I think I may take up painting!

“Hopefully someone will see what we have achieved in YSG and open a new gallery soon in Ramsgate.”