“We are our memory” - Contemporary Kent Artists' Open Call
Open Call Exhibition returning to The Horsebridge Arts Centre in Whitstable
CKA has announced its exhibition programme for 2026. Now entering its second year, the programme has evolved under the direction of Maxine Russo and James Gilgunn. Their ambition has been to showcase the rich seam of artwork being produced across Kent, highlighting the county’s artists through exhibitions and related events designed to promote their work to a wider audience.
Following the success of 2025 and encouraged by the range and diversity of artists, CKA launched an Open Call and received more than 150 entries from artists across the county.
Respected academics and art-world professionals have come on board to select and judge the entries. The theme selected for this year is ‘We are our memory’, a quote from author Jorge Luis Borges. Artists have been invited to interpret the quotation in their own way and explore what memory means to them. Works across a range of mediums have been submitted.
First prize will once again be sponsored and awarded by Kent’s largest hospitality group, Shepherd Neame, with the second prize again being offered by The Contemporary Art Academy. The People’s Choice Prize is sponsored by Carole Ridley, one of Whitstable’s well-known independent boutiques.
Elsewhere in Whitstable, Creative Space Gallery is hosting a companion exhibition featuring artists from the 2025 Open Call, demonstrating CKA’s ongoing commitment to the artists it supports.
Maxine Russo explains: “We have secured commitment from both artists and galleries alike. One of our judges is a director of a London gallery and was so impressed by the wealth and talent in Kent that he has offered an exhibition and ongoing support to a winner.”
Margate-based James Gilgunn added: “We were overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of the response. Selecting was tough - we could have done with three galleries to house all the fantastic entries.”
CKA is delighted to welcome back returning sponsors Shepherd Neame and Vinko for 2026, alongside new sponsors Brenley Wine, Barnsole Vineyard and Carole Ridley.
As in 2025, the programme will run concurrently with Whitstable Arts Festival, East Kent Artists’ Open Houses and the open-house groups that collaborated with CKA during its first year. Together, these partnerships will bring larger audiences to the region throughout the programme period and further strengthen the platform for Kent’s creative community.
October 7th 6pm-8.30 pm - Press and Private View
October 8th-18th - Exhibition Open
10th October - Artist talk in the Horsebridge Arts Centre
11th October - Music in Duke of Cumberland’s Boatyard
15th October Ekphrastic poetry event, hosted by Roy McFarlane FRSL in Horsebridge Arts Centre (ticketed event)
18th October Verbatim theatre performance piece, written by Isabelle Defaut in Horsebridge Arts Centre (ticketed event)
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