NEWS
FUNDING BOOST FOR ASHFORD INTERNATIONAL STUDIOS AT NEWTOWN WORKS
Ashford Borough Council has warmly welcomed the Government ’ s decision to award over £ 14.7 million of Levelling Up Funding for the Ashford International Studios , Newtown Works project .
© Quinn Estates
The bid , supported by Damian Green MP , SELEP , Kent Film Office , KICC , Screen South and the EKC Group , was submitted in June 2021 with the project having been identified as one of the borough ’ s most strategically important projects .
The site , which has been vacant since the mid-1980s and which received full planning permission in September 2020 , will see developer Quinn Estates working with the council , alongside The Creative District Improvement Company and Time + Space Studios , as well as with the EKC Group to bring forward the studio space and new educational facility .
The funding will address some of the challenges and high costs involved with converting the Grade II listed buildings and key barriers to delivery , and also enable the delivery of a Digital Industries skills and education
centre to support local people taking up new job opportunities in the Ashford International Film and TV Studios .
Ben Geering , development director at Quinn Estates said : " It ' s excellent news that Ashford Borough Council has secured funding from the government ' s Levelling Up Fund ; it ’ s an endorsement from the Treasury for Ashford International Studios .
" The funding is for investing in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK , including regenerating town centres and investing in cultural and heritage assets . This decision has the potential to make lasting improvements to the Ashford economy and a community asset with circa 2,000 new jobs at the heart .”
MEDWAY COUPLE SELECTED TO EXHIBIT AT TURNER CONTEMPORARY
THE GREAT TEDDY BEAR PROJECT : 21 FAMOUS NAMES - 21 PAIRS OF JEANS - 21 AMAZING TEDDY BEARS
HELEN EXCELL
CATRIONA FAULKNER
A married couple from Medway have both been selected to exhibit at the prestigious Turner Contemporary , Margate alongside other artists from Kent including Tracy Emin and Rose Wylie .
Helen Excell and Catriona Faulkner ’ s pieces were amongst the 450 works selected by the Tate from over 4,200 submissions from nearly 1,400 artists across Kent .
The Turner Contemporary Open is an exhibition that celebrates 10 years of art and creativity across Kent and Medway showcasing the breadth of artistic talent from across the county , including professional and non professional artists .
Catriona is an artist who has been exhibiting for over 10 years . She uses all kinds of found objects and assembles them into framed shrines , using hand stitch .
Helen , an emerging artist who uses a variety of techniques said of the achievement : “ Having one of my photographs selected for the Turner Contemporary Open is a dream come true especially as it will be my debut show ”.
The Turner Contemporary Open exhibition runs until 20 Feb 2022 and is free to attend .
21 renowned celebrities – including Tim Peake , Joanna Lumley , Michael Bublé , Debbie Harry , Boy George , and Michel Roux Jr – have all donated a pair of their own jeans to a unique project that has transformed the jeans into one-of-a-kind denim teddy bears .
Handmade by Canterbury Bears , the bears will be sold in an online auction running until Thursday 2nd December at www . charitystars . com / teddybearproject to support Together for Short Lives , the UK ’ s leading charity for the 99,000 children with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition and their families .
Organised by social enterprise Eazl , in collaboration with Canterbury Bears , the project ’ s bears are each embroidered with the signatures of the jeans ’ original owner and include a unique personal touch . Tim Peake ’ s bear even includes a key fob that travelled with him to the International Space Station .
Commenting on the project Joanna Lumley said : “ I couldn ’ t love my bear more . The skill , beauty and darlingness of that adorable blue creature is absolutely fabulous .”
With Boy George adding : " It ' s always great when you can create something tangible and beautiful for an amazing cause . I hope whoever buys this bear falls madly in love with it .”
To find out more about the project visit eazl . co . uk / teddy-bear-project .
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