Pledge to support the crowdfunder now!

Margate Pride is crowdfunding through Space Hive and the Kent Community Crowd fund, to produce the Margate Pride Art Trail 2022, for its third year running.

Having already had more than 100 pledges of community support, including support from famous local artist Tracey Emin and both the Turner Contemporary and Carl Freedman Galleries, Pride is entering a critical stage of its crowdfunder.

A generous pledge from Kent County Council has also helped make reaching the target a realistic goal as it now sits at 75% funded, with just a few weeks to go until it ends on the 3rd of December.

The Art Trail consists of a series of events and exhibitions that platforms local LGBTQIA+ artists and businesses whilst collaborating with charity and community groups: LGBTQIA+ youth group BeYou, Mencap and the Community Kitchen food bank.

It creates opportunities for artists of all levels and ages, enriching their experience of the town, its spaces and community.

It was born through the challenges of producing a Pride during the restrictions of the Covid Pandemic in the lockdowns of summer 2019 and solving the problem of how to be visible for the community when we were all in isolation.

From its inception The Art Trail has grown from an Art Hunt in cafe windows to a full programme of exhibitions and events, with a unique artists residency called Brink, at the Nayland Rock hotel. It is fast becoming a queer arts festival running for two weeks over the brilliant Pride day celebrations and parade.

*Jenny Boat & Tolu Oshodi performance view (image courtesy of Marika Kochiashvili)*

Tolu Oshodi and Jenny Boat, two of this year's Brink Residency artists have continued their collaborative practice created during their time on the residency, which is a brilliant legacy for the Art Trail.

“The art trail is important because it brings together the LGBTQIA+ community living in Margate and beyond. It gave me this chance to finally meet and connect with the existing queer community, make art and create new friendships” - Tolu Oshodi @lphl_

The events create new and exciting experiences in unique spaces for diverse audiences whilst actively brightening up areas of the town that have been under used.

A big focus for Pride this year will be including the empty shops at the top of the high street which has previously felt left out of the events.

Pride champions diversity and celebrates intersectionality through its commission and platforming of artists and creatives.

Like Stupendous Tremendous, the poster artist for 2021 who also held an exhibition at Sister Joan Salon.

“The Margate Art Trail came as a very exciting opportunity for me to feel seen ‘in real life’ and share my art beyond the London City limits. The acceptance and encouragement despite me not being from or living in Margate was so heartwarming and validating, and is a great example of their commitment to inclusion and diversity” - James Tuitt @stupendoustremendous

Each year there are new opportunities for artists as well as returning exhibitions like Red Flags, an open call show at The Margate School, where artists communicate their activism on current issues through the creation of flags; this exhibition has featured in two books and an academic paper.

Photographer Elissa Cray’s Pride Portrait Project is creating an archive of imagery and quotes of the LGBTQIA+ community in Thanet. Which not only creates a record of the queer community but creates space for others to see that Margate and Thanet is a place you can live and thrive as an LGBTQIA+ person, whilst mapping the movement of people to the town.

“Pride is an everyday protest! Margate pride reminds me of how the pride used to be… freedom, solidarity and an inclusive celebration of a beautiful community I’m proud to be part of. Thank you for making me feel so welcome” - Anka Dabrowska @ankadabrowskaart

The Art Trail is important and has endless benefits because the events expand and inspire the public’s ideas and experiences, forging positive relationships between communities and ecologies. Enriching the towns culture, creating unique and exciting environments, forging discussion and expanding acceptance and understanding of intersectional and minority peoples lives.

Achieving the crowdfunding goal will enable growth by producing more exhibitions, commissioning and supporting more artists for their careers to grow, bringing talks, workshops, films and performances to the town; and creating a sustainable Margate Pride for the whole community to benefit from.

www.margatepride.org.uk @margatepride www.spacehive.com/margate-pride-art-trail