The Margate Manifesto ready for launch
The Margate Manifesto to address the issues that come along with regeneration in Margate
The Margate Manifesto is a declaration of intention for the future of Margate - created in collaboration with the community, through a series of workshops, conversations and activities.
Via a series of open workshops and various online platforms, everyone was invited to have their say on the future of the town. Closed workshops also took place with local mental health organisations, learning disability groups and schools.
Organiser Jemma Channing said: “I'm in a fairly unique position of growing up in Margate on a council estate and then going on to working in the arts with local organisations like Turner Contemporary and The Royal Institute of British architects. I'm an occupational therapist so my whole role is about making the inaccessible accessible, and helping people over come barriers to participation. I noticed through my work that alot of people in Margate feel strongly about things but don't know know how or where to talk about their ideas, people want a stake in the development of the town but don't know how to get involved. The Margate Manifesto was one way of helping people get involved.
“The response was incredible and covered everything from Pete Doherty’s rowdy huskies to calls for an inquiry into Thanet District Council. Alot of common themes came up - people want our green spaces and environment to be protected, and alot of people spoke about integration between the different communities of Margate.
“I wish I could show people how much their responses, their hopes and concerns were in common. In a way the Margate Manifesto does that, we trawled through hundreds of online responses as well as the discussions at the workshops and pulled together The Margate Manifesto out of what people spoke about.”
The Manifesto will be officially launched on October 12th, 2019, at 1pm in the centre, Margate. There will be a series of Manifesto performances in Margate and Cliftonville, followed by a handover to Thanet council councillors Helen Elizabeth Whitehead and Rob Yates, along with Kent county councillor Barry Lewis at 1.15pm outside the council offices before walking through the town, finishing at Turner Contemporary at 2pm.
“We'd love for people to come listen and get involved, join our mad march around town and get excited about what is happening in Margate now,” adds Channing. “The BBC are filming the Margate Manifesto being performed for an upcoming documentary about Margate, too, so we're hoping for a good turnout.
Alongside the Margate Manifesto launch, there is a pop up exhibition at 101 Social, Northdown Road, Margate. The exhibition will be two floors of artwork inspired by and made during the process of making a manifesto. The shows on Sat 12th and Sun 13th October 11am - 4pm.