GET IN THE cultural groove
Sadly, the outbreak of coronavirus has put a question mark on a growing policy among local authorities in the three counties to put faith into expanding their cultural and digital facilities as part of the drive for economic growth in the face of the tough time hitting their High Street shops.
Fortunately, the schemes are long term and should continue.
There are schemes in a number of towns to augment the cultural offer, such as expanding Colonnade House in Worthing and boosting the successful creative industries in Ramsgate. Brighton, of course, has a thriving cultural scene.
Similar policies have been followed in Folkestone with its arts festival for some time. Expanding the cultural effort increases the attractions of town centres and helps the climate for commercial development as well as mitigating the woes of vacant shops.
Research by Heritage Lab CIC and Canterbury Christ Church University, funded by Locate in Kent and the Arts Council England, highlighted that Ramsgate is helping to contribute over £165 million to the UK economy through its creative sector. The report said this had a major impact on the seaside town’s economy.
In the town made famous by world renowned authors, artists and architects such as Jane Austen, Wilkie Collins, Mary Townley, Vincent Van Gogh and Edward Pugin, there are estimated to be 233 creative enterprises contributing £85 million to the local economy each year. The figure of £165 million relates to those people working in the UK wide creative sector.
Locate in Kent suggests that Ramsgate illustrates the growing appeal of the south east to the creative industries which comes from connectivity to London, lower property prices and a growing talent pool.
Heritage Lab CIC’s role in this is to bring heritage buildings and community assets back into sustainable use, boosting local employment. They are currently bidding to save Edward Pugin’s Grade II listed Granville Hotel by restoring 1,600 sq.metres (17,223 sq.ft.) of space in the former ballroom, theatre and bar to create spaces for exhibitions, performances, community events and conferences and gallery and interpretation space to be known as Pugin’s Chambers.
Rob Kenyon of Heritage Lab CIC said: “It is clear from this report that our diverse and growing creative sector is putting Ramsgate well and truly on the map and we aim to help the sector to thrive by regenerating some of the town’s heritage buildings”.
Gavin Cleary of Locate in Kent said: “Ramsgate is ideally placed as a prime location for those wanting to invest or relocate to Kent”.
Emma Wilcox of Creative Estuary, a new concept that is promoting the Thames Estuary Production Corridor, said: “Ramsgate has the key role to play in the delivery of the Corridor”.