It’s all kicking off in Margate.
Butit’s not all about giant seagulls and Instagrammable sunsets, and that’s where Margate Festival steps in.
Throughout July and into August galleries, shop fronts and even flats are hosting an eclectic array of exhibitions and events that unearth local talent and ask urgent questions about our existence.
What do we do about the thousands of seabirds that are in danger from our plastic waste? Miyuki Kasahara asks us to pledge our commitment to the environment in her participatory artwork installation, ‘Saying Goodbye?’.
Sophie Mallett invites us to speak up about regeneration versus gentrification in the Soft Borders project at Resort Studios and AGORA by Dan Thompson brings together the artistic, spiritual, civic and political life of the city all in one space.
Innovative and provocative exhibitions also feature throughout the festival at a range of galleries including Pie Factory, Lombard Street Gallery, CRATE Studio and Project Space as well as unexpected encounters at 6 Broad Street and The Shop Front too.
If you’re up for fun and frolics, then join with The Margate Games made and designed by artists at Marine Studios or the Spooky Men’s Chorale on 1 August where you can sing along and learn some weird and wonderful new numbers. If live music, spoken word and art installations is more your thing, then spend a day at PRAH studios with its gallery and event space, recording studio and BBQ yard on Saturday 5 August.
Dreamland Margate and Turner Contemporary are hosting a whole host of exciting events and exhibitions too.
Margate Festival is a partnership between festival producers Threshold Studios, Kent County Council, Turner Contemporary and Dreamland Margate.
The full festival programme can be explored via www.margatefestival.org