News Blast: Big changes at local venues and more
Creative and cultural news from Thanet and East Kent, including big changes at various local venues
Changes afoot at various local venues, plus new openings for the summer season, opportunities to share your creative projects, here's our round up of the latest creative news in Thanet and beyond.
Ramsgate Music Hall boss André Dack has announced that he is moving on. “Almost a decade on from my first shift at this special venue, my time at Ramsgate Music Hall has come to an end,” he says in a statement. “Rest assured the venue is in incredibly safe hands going forward. This team has an immense level of grit and determination. I’ve no doubt that the future will be fruitful, especially with your continued support.” Read our recent interview with André.
Broadstairs’ Sarah Thorne Theatre says that it is confident for its future, despite the building that houses it being put up for sale by Kent County Council. The theatre is currently attempting to negotiate a five year lease with KCC “as an interim measure”. A spokesperson says, “We hope the politicians see sense and allow this building, built by public subscription, to remain in the hands of the town. We are so confident of our future that we have announced our pantomime for this year, Dick Whittington and also our plans for 2026 when we will stage Jack and the Beanstalk."
Margate’s Theatre Royal is one of ten at risk venues set to receive funding from the Theatres Trust. The organisation has awarded £5,325 to carry out a survey of the historic plaster work in the ceiling of the theatre’s auditorium. The Theatre Royal closed in 2022 and has been on the Theatre Trust’s At Risk Register since 2018. The building is currently in the early stages of redevelopment, funded by the Margate Town Deal. It is currently scheduled to reopen in 2027.
Deal’s Museum of the Moving Image has reopened, having closed in December in order to carry out essential work to its collection and exhibitions. As well as the full spruced up museum, there’s a final chance to see the Ealing Studios exhibition, before the unveiling of a new production design exhibition this summer. The museum is open Friday to Sunday and bank holidays. Find out more.
London’s Tate Modern has announced a new Tracey Emin exhibition, set to open next year. The career retrospective will include artworks spanning 40 years, including paintings, videos, textiles, neons, writing, sculpture and installations. It will include works that have never before been exhibited. The show is set to open on February 26 2026 and run until August 31 2026. More details.
Open School East has announced an open call for Associate Artists, set to open for applications in May. The Margate-based art school is seeking emerging artists and practitioners to join its annual free artist development programme. Applications will open on May 1 until June 20, with interviews in July. The programme will then run from September this year to July 2026. Further details.
Pomus is opening a second space on Margate’s Harbour Arm, just a stone’s throw away from its main restaurant in The Centre. This much smaller space, called POM, will be open for wine, cocktails and snacks in time for the summer months.
The Cookie Man is back! Not that he ever went away, but after a few years of pop-ups and markets stalls around Thanet and beyond, he’s got a permanent space again. As of today at 11am, you’ll find him in the Old Kent Market serving up those incredible cookies Wednesday to Sunday. Never again will you have to wonder where you’re going to get the best cookie of your life at short notice.
Margate Film Festival is now open for submissions and wants your shorts and features. The festival is expanding its remit to include artist moving image and audio-visual installations also, so send in your six-hour video-interpretive dance piece on the Salem witch trials. More information.
Broadstairs welcomes a new cafe to the hood. Margate’s Giant Coffee, which comes with an array of plant-based counter treats, has opened up on Albion Street for more of the same.
The Tate has announced former Vogue editor Edward Enninful will curate The 90s, an exhibition looking at a decade far more hopeful than current, and filled with pioneering creativity. Expect big fashion photographers, designers like Alexander McQueen and Vivianne Westwood and artists such as Damian Hirst. Sounds excellent, but keep calm - the exhibition won’t open until October next year.
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