About
A new trust to keep Margate creative
Margate Creative Land Trust was set up to tackle the challenges the existing property market presents to creative workspace providers, practitioners and businesses, and those looking to take first steps into a creative career.
Margate has recently seen significant increases in residential and commercial property values, with press coverage promoting the town’s fertile environment making it increasingly attractive as a place to live and visit. Coupled with a lack of quality jobs, and an employment base often juggling multiple roles to earn a living, the need for a land trust to help stabilise the sector and ensure access to affordable space has never been more urgent.
By providing access to networks and enterprise support, Margate Creative Land Trust will enable creative enterprises to expand their business and become employers. Our community engagement programmes will ensure local people can develop skills and training opportunities that will support ways into jobs in Margate’s creative sector, addressing barriers to employment and improving social mobility.
Seed funding has been provided through the Margate Town Deal to establish a portfolio of creative workspaces that will be affordable in perpetuity. This initial capital seed funding has been ringfenced to acquire buildings for creative workspace in Margate, with a revenue allocation which acts to support the property needs of the sector, and delivers participatory and skills development programmes.
Our Mission
To promote arts, crafts and craftmanship for the public benefit, in particular but not exclusively, by providing or facilitating access to affordable workspace for the production of arts and crafts to those in need in the district of Thanet in the county of Kent and surrounding areas”
Photo: Rob Ball
The story so far...
Margate Creative Land Trust came into being from an urgent need to protect an increasingly fragile and precarious creative sector in Margate.
The idea for the Trust came through dialogue with creative tenants, sector representatives and community groups involved in developing the Town Investment Plan, which formed the basis of a bid to government for transformative funding. This funding was earmarked for projects delivering regeneration and economic growth in the area. The Trust was set up as an independent charity in 2022.
Meet our team
We are an independent charity with a board of founding trustees and an executive team with arts, studio provision, charity, property and finance expertise.
Annette Russell
Executive Director
April Brown
Community Engagement Lead
Rebecca Clark
Executive Assistant
General Manager
Property Development Manager
Meet our board
Paula Hirst
Chair
Dan Chilcott
Trustee
Naomi Cooper-Davis
Trustee
Michael Nates
Trustee
Laura Middlehurst
Trustee
Gabrielle Wilson
Trustee
