KENTSTAYCATION
Now a melting pot of elements left over from its previous identities as a Victorian resort and tacky relic , these traits are today juxtaposed with the resurgence of art and culture in the town , resulting in a complete rebirth and even a brand new nickname : ‘ Shoreditch-on-Sea ’. Similarly to its East End counterpart , to coincide with its rebrand , a plethora of places that include everything from artisan bakeries and refined restaurants to vintage stores and boutique independent shops , have popped up in Margate . This tidal wave of things to do and places to visit includes an array of art galleries , such as Margate ’ s biggest and most famous : the Turner Contemporary . It is this celebrated and worldrenowned arts hub that fuelled much of Margate ’ s regeneration , the catalyst for an ‘ if you build it , they will come ’ style transformation .
Founded to celebrate J . M . W . Turner ’ s connection to Margate in 2001 , the David Chipperfield designed gallery opened in 2011 and is now one of the UK ’ s leading art galleries . Since opening , the gallery has welcomed over 3.8 million visitors , put over £ 70 million back into the Kent economy and connected with thousands of people from the local community through their world class programme . Built on the site of the boarding house where J . M . W . Turner stayed during his visits to Margate , the gallery is inspired by the life and work of the celebrated artist , who found inspiration in the town ’ s skies and light and believed in the power of art as an agent for change . A visit to the Turner Contemporary is an absolute must when staycationing in Margate : enjoy the latest art exhibition , take part in tours or activities , or simply sit and relax in the café while enjoying views of the harbour over a cappuccino . Until 10 September , visitors to the Turner can see the latest exhibition , Beatriz Milhazes : Maresias , a survey of the work of Beatriz Milhazes , who is widely recognised as one of the leading abstract artists working today .
Alongside the Turner Contemporary , a host of smaller , independent art galleries are dotted among Margate ’ s streets , including some that showcase the works of local artists such as those featured in our insideKENT artist profiles . One such gallery is the DIG Gallery (@ diggallerymargate ), displaying a selection of talented Kent artists , many of whom portray the landscapes of Kent in original and awe-inspiring ways . Just across the road from DIG is Gallery7 , a studio and exhibition space featuring the works of both Steven McGuiness (@ macthree _ s ) who depicts local scenes , and the work of his sister , Lisa McGuiness (@ lisaillustrations ) who celebrates the character and charm of Thanet through bright , bold and brilliant paintings . Lisa ’ s work usually includes affectionately funny captions such as ‘ Kent Riviera ’, ‘ Broadbados ’ and ‘ Costa Del Kent ’ as ingenious , tongue-incheek descriptions of the area .
TURNER CONTEMPORARY
CLIFFS
Art in all its forms is celebrated in Margate , extending beyond visual galleries and into theatres and events . One such venue is the Tom Thumb Theatre , a family run arts hub originally built as a coach house in Victorian times , then transformed into one of the smallest theatres in the world in 1984 . “ We aim to be a springboard for emerging talent and a laboratory for more established artists to experiment with new work . Our programme is a wide range , including theatre , music , film , comedy , poetry and cabaret ,” says co-owner and creative director Alex Ratcliffe . Another venue that frequently showcases new talent of all shapes and sizes is Cliffs in Cliftonville , which takes further formation as an award-winning café , record shop and hair salon . One of Margate ’ s most iconic venues for events and entertainment is of course Dreamland . As well as vintage rides that hark back to those halcyon days of the seaside resort in its peak , Dreamland hosts a multitude of events , including world-famous acts , sellout gigs and concerts . June sees the likes of Queens of the Stone Age , Will Young and DJ Annie Mac perform – be quick with those tickets !
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DREAMLAND