By Dan Thompson
There’s a chance to change the world – starting with Margate, when authors and artists come together for a weekend in the town at the start of May.
Words Change Things is organised by Dan Thompson Studios, supported by Marine Studios and Union Church, and includes contributions from Robin Ince, Emily Buchanan, Sarah P Corbett, Cara Courage, Travis Elborough, John Grindrod, Dougald Hine, Seth Insua, Ellen Jones, Bernadette Russell, Connor Sansby and others.
It kicks off on Thursday 30th April, with events by comedian and broadcaster Robin Ince and author John Grindrod.
John Grindrod will talk about his new book Tales of the Suburbs. It collects together the stories of LGBTQ+ people in the suburbs. John – known for books like Iconicon and Concretopia – will be in conversation with Dr Cara Courage, an expert in place-making. The event at Marine Studios is supported by The Margate Bookshop. Doors open at 7pm.
The same night, author, comedian, and popular broadcaster Robin Ince talks about Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal, a personal exploration of anxiety, ADHD, and neurodiversity. For this event by The Margate Bookshop, he’s in conversation with Ellen Jones, author of Outrage. It’s at Fort Road Bar, 18 Fort Road, from 7pm.
On Friday 1st May, Marine Studios becomes a hub for activists, with a dedicated writing session in the morning, from 9.30am-1pm. Then there will be a shared lunch, where artists, writers, audiences, and community organisers come together. it’s free, with an invitation to bring food to share. The lunch will be repeated at the same time on Saturday and Sunday.
May 1st is First Friday, so the regular Marine Studios event returns. “We know that if you time travel into the past, you can change the future by stepping on a bug,” say the organisers, “but equally that means that right now, you can change the future by treading carefully.”
The Ragged Optimist will be inviting people to suggest 100 good ideas for the Isle of Thanet, Sarah P Corbett from Craftivist Collective will invite people to join some stitch-based activism, and Dave Barnard, former Head of Community Services at London’s Toynbee Hall, will help people think about their own actions. Vanishing Point will also launch a new project, based on Arlington House. It’s at Marine Studios from 6pm-8.30pm.
The same day, Marine Studios launch their Secret Postcard Auction. The traditional seaside postcard is given a twist, where artists from across the UK have made A6, postcard-sized artwork – but signed them on the reverse. Place your bids, and you might be buying something by a superstar. Artists including Margo in Margate, Hermetic Sign Company, Cat Neil, Alice Herrick, Tom Gidley, Nicole Mollett, and Graham Ward are among dozens of artists making cards for Marine Studios. View the work and place your bid at the studio from 11am-8.30pm.
On Saturday, events at Marine Studios are joined by a programme at Union Church, in Union Crescent. Visitors will be invited to walk a meditative labyrinth, take part in workshops by Sarah Corbett and poet Connor Sansby, and hear from Ellen Jones in conversation with Fr Leigh Daynes, Priest-in-Charge, St. John the Baptist – Margate’s historic Church of England Parish and Civic Church. The conversation, titled A Queer God? Why God talk matters, happens at 3pm.
Back at Marine Studios, Travis Elborough will remind us that in an era where our liberties are often under threat, standing up for – and voicing – our personal and political beliefs is not merely a human right but our duty. He’ll read from his book Letters To Change The World from 2pm, before a letter-writing workshop at 3pm.
From 7pm, Activist Fiction will bring together Seth Insua (Human, Animal – BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick) and Emily Buchanan (Send Flowers). The two authors will talk about fiction that reflects activist life and how to imagine a brighter future, in an event chaired by Neil Griffiths (Arts Emergency and Firewall). It’s at Marine Studios.
Words Change Things is a mini-festival of books, ideas, and actions, with workshops and exhibitions wrapped around the main programme. It’s organized and funded by Dan Thompson Studio, supported by Marine Studios, with Craftivist Collective, Occulture, The Margate Bookshop, Margate Pride, Union Church, and Vanishing Point.
For full and up-to-date listings visit www.danthompson.co.uk. All events are free to attend.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of Thanetians will do what most Thanetians do most weekends.
When will all these activists find their contentment?
Never heard of any of ’em!
Simply naive.
“…Sarah P Corbett from Craftivist Collective will invite people to join some stitch-based activism…” lol, wut?
Interesting to see how quickly folk who do nothing criticise those who do. It’s not an attractive trait.
Maybe you could enlighten me on what “stitch-based activism” is, Brenda?
Why isn’t the talented local author Peter Checksfield ever invited to the many book events in Thanet? He has sold over five copies of many of his ‘books’ and is a popular man.