WELCOME
“ At moments of great enthusiasm it seems to me that no one in the world has ever made something this beautiful and important .” M . C . Escher , artist
As a company of creatives ; storytellers , wordsmiths , visual artists , designers , photographers , content creators and communicators , insideKENT ’ s ‘ The Arts Issue ’ is truly one of our utmost favourites of the entire year .
As the continuing pressures of spiralling living costs , media scaremongering and , if like my own household , exam season stresses takes hold , what if we just take a moment to stop , to look up , to explore , to be inspired , and to be reminded of just how creatively beautiful our home county really is .
The iK team have the pleasure of being based at Ashford ’ s Coachworks , a creative melting pot ( that also handily boasts an outside ‘ Yard Bar ’ that ’ s perfect for summer deadline celebrations …) as well as its claim to event fame , the Hot House , which hosts everything from bands to open mic nights , makers markets and marketing networking sessions . It was also chosen as one of the inaugural host sites for Ashford ’ s acclaimed UNFRAMED mural festival . This incredible project produced stunning - and already award-winning - street art works across the town with artists such as Mr Doodle , Alex Chinneck , Charley Peters , Curtis Hylton and local artist Danielle Williamson expressing their talents and bringing that ‘ great enthusiasm ’ Escher so eloquently encapsulated .
TAKING IN THE UNFRAMED ART AT COACHWORKS
It seemed fitting to refer to Escher , my own GCSE art inspiration some * cough * years ago , in a year that has seen a 40 % decline in the number of students taking art GCSE than in 2010 , and as my own daughter now sits her exams , embracing and pioneering her inner musicianship , while navigating an education system that still fails many a creative .
But , when you get out the other side , when you pick up pen , pencil , brush , clay , microphone , or let go of inhibitions , take to the stage and express yourself - the world is a better place !
This June , delve into our latest Arts Hotlist and plough through this bumper issue ’ s pages to discover over 100 people , places , events and activities that really do put Kent on the ‘ Arts Map ’! All awaiting your reading pleasure from p13 .
Take on the Art ’ s Trail on p69 , discover Fabulous Folkestone on p95 , and find out just why Margate is so marvellous on p89 .
And that ’ s not all .
This June we celebrate the royalty in our lives . From our dads and like-a-dads with a range of inspired Father ’ s Day outings and gifts on p32 ; to the kings of the BBQ on p104 ; and the queens bringing a real sense of PRIDE to Kent on p75 .
As well as our regular home and garden inspiration , the best of Kent ’ s reviews , and even the best place to toast your creativity with a glass of crisp , cold beer on p116 .
I ’ m off to stoke up the BBQ , pick up a pen , party at Pride , and open my eyes to the wonder ...
Go Create Kent !
www . insidekentmagazine . co . uk
@ insideKENT
Publisher Adam Ready Editor-in-Chief Samantha Ready Features Editor & Administration Manager Karlene Gannon Editor Polly Humphris Features Writer Ashleigh Britten Features Writer Olivia Riccini Senior Designer Dave Leo Yogore Graphic Designer Lorna Morris Graphic Designer Kareena Ross-Cumming Graphic Designer Lauren Brown Sales Manager Jen Crisp Senior Account Manager Jerry Barrett Senior Account Manager Alex Perseval Intern Mia Chapman Contributors Benenden Hospital , Ben Stokes - Kagu , David Ellis , Helen Pett , Ian Swatman , Julia Kendell , Zahra Tarjomani Cover : © Creative Folkestone
insideKENT Magazine is published by Sideways Media Ltd , Coachworks , Dover Place , Ashford , Kent TN23 1HU www . sidewaysmedia . co . uk For general enquiries , please contact hello @ sidewaysmedia . co . uk or 01233 226519
For all advertising enquiries , please contact Adam Ready on 01233 226519 or email adam @ sidewaysmedia . co . uk For all editorial enquiries , press releases or news stories , please contact insidekent @ sidewaysmedia . co . uk
© Copyright 2023 . The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher . Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine make any guarantees , warranties or claims as to the accuracy , currency or truthfulness of any of the contents of this magazine . No part of this magazine may be copied , reproduced or transmitted in any form without the publisher ’ s written consent . No responsibility is taken for unsolicited editorial , images or photographs published . While every care is taken , prices and details are subject to change and the publisher takes no responsibility for omissions or errors . Publisher is not responsible for any variation in image colour due to printing processes .
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