Margate Project Given Nod of Approval

The building newly renovated by East Kent art project, CRATE, has been commended by the Arts Council South East (ACSE) and East Kent Partnership (EKP), following a tour of the new building in Margate.

The purchase and renovation of the building in Bilton Square has been jointly funded by Arts Council South East and East Kent Partnership.

The building, which opened in July of this year, has enabled CRATE to provide resources for local artists including low-cost studio space, access to project spaces and a creative hub to foster and support local artists. It has also become the project's permanent base.

The building is near to Margate old town, in the heart of Margate's regeneration zone. Measuring 2,700 square feet, it is a former print works and is split over three levels, offering six individual or shared studios including one wheelchair accessible unit on the ground floor, two project spaces and a projection room.

The project has already proved to be enormously successful, with artists from east Kent and further afield benefiting from the use of the project and studio spaces. There are currently five artists using the facilities on long term let and the project spaces are booked until January 2007.

CRATE is hoping to attract both emerging artists and those at key stages in their professional development to benefit from the new facilities, using the space for practise rather than display.

Studios are used by a combination of both short and long-term users and project spaces are available for short-term use by artists from as little as £15 a day or £50 a week.

The need for affordable artists' infrastructure is significantly greater in East Kent than can be met by this project alone, but it is hoped that CRATE will act as a pioneer and driving force for other, similar initiatives.

Verity Slater, Visual Arts Officer for ACSE, said: "CRATE has provided affordable work space for visual artists. This is a real asset to this part of the region.

"Work space is a growing priority throughout the South East, and CRATE provides a strong model of how artist-led organisations can develop similar spaces."

Janet Waghorn, Executive Director for EKP, said: "The CRATE building is a fantastic resource for artists and the East Kent Partnership fully supports the work of such a unique project in the area.

"It will help to reinforce Margate as a cultural hub, which in turn will encourage visitors and regeneration."

CRATE was formed in 2002 by students at the Kent Institute of Art and Design (KIAD) who shared a common need for studios and wished to establish a support network for local artists.

Pictured (from left to right) Sue Jones, CRATE, Janet Waghorn, Executive Director EKP, Verity Slater, Visual Arts Officer for ACSE, Moira, CRATE, Chris Yates, CRATE Project Manager.

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