ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THE ARTS HOTLIST 2026
KENT ART ON SHOW – GALLERIES, STUDIOS, SHOWS & TRAILS
1. Riverhill Himalayan Gardens, near Sevonoaks
2. South East Open Studios, across Kent
3. Slap‘ N Dash, Hawkhurst First established in 2006, Slap‘ N Dash is a paint-your-own ceramics studio situated on Hawkhurst Fish Farm, priding itself on its accessible and inclusive environment. You can get creative while overlooking the lakes, with the studio welcoming adults, teens and children of all ages and abilities to express their creativity. slapndash. com slapndashceramics
4. Splatter Studio, Gravesend Step into a studio drenched in colour, where you can paint, dip and throw your paint across the room. Suitable for all ages who wish to embrace the vibrant mess, with no experience needed, the studio offers a space of creative fun, with a canvas painting to take away at the end of the experience. splatterstudio. co. uk splatterstudiogravesend
9. The Cranbrook Art Show, Cranbrook 5- 7 November One of the most popular art events in the South East, set in the picturesque Vestry Hall in Cranbrook. Selected and curated from the wealth of local professional artists, the result is a fascinating and eclectic show that holds a focus on excellence across a range of disciplines. This well-respected show is in its 30th year and is definitely a date for your diary. cranbrookartshow. org. uk cranbrookartshow
6. Creek Creative, Faversham Home to 45 unique creatives, Creek Creative is a flexible arts facility and co-working space arranged across three floors. The non-profit organisation are known for their friendly and community-driven initiatives. Situated in historic Abbey Street, close to Faversham town centre, the studios offer inspiration from art galleries and projects to teaching spaces for hire, paired with an award-winning café and local makers’ shop. creek-creative. org creek _ creative
7. Shoreline Gallerias, Margate Shoreline is home to Margate Made, Westgate Galleria and The Eclectic Art Gallery. Built with a vision to showcase local creatives and provide a unique shopping experience for appreciators of artisanal products. The outlet provides affordable retail outlets, creating inviting spaces for exhibiting and selling original art, crafts, homeware, accessories and gifts, alongside a space for group workshops and one-to-one teaching. shorelinepartners. co. uk / westgate-galleria shorelinegallerias
8. West End House Gallery, Smarden A contemporary gallery set in the historic town of Smarden run by two local artists, Karen Papworth and Patricia Hawkins. The gallery invites visitors into a friendly atmosphere, where there is an array of local talent and original artworks. From paintings, prints, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery and glasswork. The gallery also holds two to three exhibitions a year. westendhousegallery. co. uk westendhousegallery
9. Walmer Castle Book Fair, Deal 12- 14 June Browse through a selection of secondhand and new books on the historic grounds of the Tudor Walmer Castle. The event offers a unique opportunity for book lovers to discover a wide range of classical to modern texts, with the chance to explore the grounds and castle, including access to the castle’ s kitchen garden and the Queen Mother’ s Garden. english-heritage. org. uk walmercastleandgardens
10. Medway Open Studios & Arts Festival, Medway 4- 19 July These well-loved annual open studios attract up to 25 venues across Medway, with work on display by over 200 artists, varying from painting and printmaking to ceramics, textiles and illustration. Discover hidden trails and make your way across the Kentish countryside to see local creative talents. medwayopenstudios. org mwayopenstudios
11. Linden Hall Studio, Deal A vibrant space dedicated to showcasing an ever-evolving collection of paintings and sculptures. The independent, family-run gallery has been working as Deal’ s premier centre for visual arts since 2014. With a wide range of event programmes including masterclasses, educational visits, lectures and monthly film screenings lindenhallstudio. com linden _ hall _ studio
12. Sevonoaks Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sevonoaks Discover a contemporary exhibition space that invites local, innovative talent to showcase their artwork. From emerging talent to established artists, the gallery aims to provide an interactive community, with exhibitors regularly holding talks and workshops in visual art to help with the engagement of visitors. svaf. co. uk sevenoakskaleidoscope
13. Benenden Art Fair, Benenden 2- 4 October Set in the historic village of Benenden, the art fair’ s mission is to showcase a wealth
of local talent in Kent and East Sussex. The fair provides a professional yet friendly atmosphere for visitors to explore a range of artists, focusing on a community-led attitude that welcomes artists of all abilities. benendenartfair. com benendenartfair
14. Chappell Contemporary, Whitstable Established in 2015, Chappell Contemporary is a modern gallery specialising in vibrant, unconventional artwork. With limitededition pieces, the gallery offers both emerging and established artists the chance to showcase their work. Offering a welcoming atmosphere to explore a wealth of unique artistic mediums. chappellcontemporary. com chappell _ contemporary
WEST END HOUSE GALLERY
SPLATTER STUDIO
96 • www. insidekent. co. uk