How could you resist? Tracy's invite

Not easily, if you care for Margate, Thanet and East Kent, the Turner Contemporary like it or not is the establishments big chip in the regeneration game. A lot hangs on it.

I think you should make your own mind up on this, suffice it to say I'd measure Tracy Emin's talent on the same scale as that of Damien Hirst. After seeing the exhibition I watched the Andrew Marr Show, noting that it seems Mr Marr has tired of politics and appears to be boosting his credentials as an art expert, hence a fairly substantial interview with Tracy Emin.

Anyway it's good to see the Harbour Arm lively with it's own contribution to art, generally Margate looked busy.

Bignews does the ramble Art, Politics, Icy roads, plus local Blog Rankings

Some bloggers, have a sunday ramble, a weekly ramble and possibly a daily ramble, with time to burn yesterday, rather than sit and fester at Flaig Mansions, I thought I've two choices Mrs Me has requested that I tidy up the study/library (spare room with lots of stuff old papers, brochures, magazines, books, tools and work gear) or I could get some fresh air.

I have until the end of the week to tidy up, or else and not having had much fresh air I decided to get out, anyhow although Mrs Me doesn't appreciate these things but I have tidied up the old desktop, defragged the hard drive, removed a lot of rubbish and updated stuff, so despite the bitter cold a walk was by far the more appealing option. I don't generally ramble or muse but here goes.

It's difficult to express how poor our local authority has been in clearing roads, as for pavements forget about it, despite listening to upbeat music on my iphone I could not help but have dark thoughts about our county and district councillors, particularly the former since these blighters trouser I think 13 grand plus a year, for what, couldn't they at least earn the money by clearing paths or something.

I cheered up, once in Margate to realise that contrary to media reports, there was some life left in Margate, and Rooks butchers still sell fine savoury delights such as sausage rolls and one of there unique specialities the cheese and bacon twist, basically a circle of puff pastry, with bacon and melted cheese on top, delicious, even better that, they now sell coffee.

Fortified I stumbled, back into the "Market" then walk down the lower high street, obviously activity is low, but which high street is still thriving, anyhow wandering around the old town, its pleasing to see the shops that are occupied which five years ago were empty, I visited the Margate Gallery which has expanded since I last visited and currently has a fine exhibition of work "Lovers of Light".

I see Southern Gas networks are busy ripping up much of Margate with considerable  mess in the old town, I just hope that they leave things as they found them but I'd take a guess that some of the elaborate blockwork paving will get replaced with tarmac, on to the Harbour Arm, I see this is now colonised by contractors building flood defences,  given that work is set to continue throughout the year, I just wonder how serious the risk of flooding is and whether its worth a years disruption.

Saturday I visited Turner Elements, but through the magic of the mobile phone, got interupted, so yesterday spent an hour or so wandering round the Turner Contemporary, first the Hamish Fulton exhibition, which devotes itself to the artist's interest in walking, with no to wish criticise I cannot help thinking if the artist, was to document his quest to fill out his annual tax return, using randomly sized notices and simple bold text, bullet points, accompanied with equally random pictures, then there would be little difference indeed it might prove more interesting.

Coming to the "Turner Elements", this is as you'd expect marvelous, the exhibition is pegged on the idea of elements as understood by greeks? earth wind water and fire and er air, anyway some great pictures and snippets of Turner capturing ideas, impressions of light and objects, a sort of visual memory, brilliant still a small point, one picture Evening of the Deluge is lit from above and the frame casts a shadow over the picture.

The Turner Elements is a great distraction from the world, outside the gallery is another distraction as much disconnected from the reality as anything inside, at first glance it looks like a hastily arranged Tracy Emin retrospective, from her tent period but happens to be the  "occupy campaign" camped at the bottom of the stairs, you have to admire the futility and stupidity of the protest, a vague and apparently pointless, anticapitalist group with no realistic objectives or goals. I couldn't help wondering whether hidden within the mess of tents, campaigners hadn't pegged out, however on leaving I could hear disembodied voices coming from within the canvas, rather them than me.

Taking a glance at "Occupy Thanet" vacant, facebook page and having taken a gander at the bland meaningless press release, even with the "like" endorsement from local activist and film maker Christine Tongue, someone ought to be kind and tell them their wasting their time.

I hope that someone gets this lot get evicted, Margate harbour area all ready looks a mess, with the harbour arm converted into a builders yard, the clump of tents just by the entrance is a complete pigs breakfast, of course had the protesters a rational objective, instead of wallowing in pity and loathing of vile capitalists, why don't they do something, like get a job, or if they already work, get a better job and be happy.


As a capitalist in the loosest definition, that is I go to work and earn money, I'd like to see that the someone from the jobcentre, makes sure I'm not grafting to subsidise these people, particularly since they can't even bother to articulate themselves.

I applaud protest, when it has an objective like that of the late Brian Haw a long term campaigner, who set up his own peace camp opposite Parliament, reminding politicians of the consequences of decisions over Iraq, for the last ten years and even if you don't agree at least you can respect the man's purpose in speaking up for children and civilians, victims of the Iraq war.

Sorry for the ramble finally, I took a quick glance at rankings using figures from Ebuzzing formally Wikio as you can be sure these are kind to me, which is why I wont be quoting my google page rank which has slipped down the toilet. I know Michael Child publishes monthly figures but anyhoo these are independent.

Bignews Margate score  801

Thanet Press score 833 (mostly from TDC PR who I thought Michael was no longer going to use )
Thanet Life score1000
Thanetonline score 1574
Thanet Star score 1907
Thanet Waves score 14073 (this is the first reference to this site and as such is likely to rise rapidly since  Luke Edwards site is one of the better reads in Thanet,.

NEXT IF I GET ROUND TO IT - Another instance of BBC sloppy reporting?

Turner Complacency

Above from Turner Contemporary Facebook page

I'm indebted to Cllr Clive Hart (Leader of Thanet Council)  for inspiration on this blog post, having received an email reminder of what I could have enjoyed, had I been aware of, that being the projection of a poem by artist Lemn Sissay, who I assume is somewhat more accomplished in arranging words than I, anyhow it looked from photographs on Clive's Facebook page to have been a fantastic visual treat.

I have to admit that I dont know enough to tell when words become poetry, however I'm sure I'd have enjoyed the visual side of this event, certainly Cllr Hart's photograph's shows that this projection lifted the normaly bland monochrome appearance of the gallery into something special and sympathetic to Margate's brash gaudy heritage.

I regularly check out the Turner Contemporary website and have to say, that Gallery seems to run a selective or ineffective public relations/information strategy , although this event was not directly commissioned by the gallery, it was linked and should have been bigged up, a bit more than it was, speaking to the gallery bods yesterday, I mentioned I could find no reference and was pointed to a brief mention in the whats on section.

Looking at the "press" section of Turner Contemporary website, there seems to be a dearth of information, according to the list of press releases, since December 19th last year, nothing has been worthy of mention, such as Lemn Sissay or indeed, Jon Snow news presenter, officially opening the exhibition last Friday  (according to this weeks Thanet Times), an event one assumes to allow the top knobs to er hobnob, without risk of being exposed to us lower orders, who through patronage of the national lottery, and tax system  fund the gallery.

I appreciate that Turner Contemporary is marketed and promoted with a bit more panache than the odd email or press release, using social media such as facebook and personal contacts, but it doesn't seem, judgeing by a quick glance, at the main website, as if there has been any great excitement, over the arrival of Turner's elements.

No doubt some of you have an idea that I have a downer on the gallery, not so and get hacked off at the muppets who litter the letters page of the Isle of Thanet Gazette with simplistic views, however since to the best of my knowledge the gallery is publically funded, I just question why the gallery has been schtum about what was billed by the Guardian as the opening of Turner and the Elements on Friday 27th. Given that  John Kampfner is both chair of the Board of Turner Contemporary and Chief Executive of the organisation Index on Censorship, I can't help thinking that there is more than a hint of irony. Still that's my opinion, and since I like to think we're a bit more inclusive here at Bignews Margate, John Kampfner or anyone else can always correct me by making a comment.

Anyhoo remember that T C is part of local life, not just a curiosity for arty farty types from London so enjoy the elements a real treat I'm sure, and finally it's clear that the gallery has reached out to those locally who are receptive and this first year will have exceeded the projected visitor numbers, however I hope that people arent complacent for myself I think that T C will continue to succeed  but they cannot relax.

PS I may have been harsh taking a gander at TC's facebook pages, these seem more informative and active than the proper Website, me I don't really do facebook and as it gets more intrusive the less I like.

Click here for Lemn Sissay poem 

Turner Contemporary Facebook page

The Queen’s visit to Margate

No doubt excitement is mounting throughout the upper echelons of the great and the good of Thanet Society and indeed, Kent as a whole. As yet details of the visit due on Friday 11th November are limited, however I would assume a circuit of the Turner Contemporary is most likely, in which case I’d guess Thanet’s top knobs might well play second fiddle to KCC wallahs.

I see at least one local councillor is showing he’s already muchly excited “a great privilege for the town and the island in general. I suspect that the frantic polishing of shoes and pressing of suits and dresses is already well  underway” regular local blog readers will “I suspect” recognise the fawning style of Cllr Moores .

Anyhoo I’d just love to be a fly on the wall as our “betters”, vie with each other for a chance of hand shake or exchange of pleasantries and speculate on the machinations between Labour and Conservatives particularly given the tenuous grip on the council of the latter and the ambitions of the former.

Well as a sort of republican, I would, if we lived in a proper democracy vote for the Queen as President, since from my observations, she appears to be well informed and has experience well beyond any politician in Westminster.

Since at this point through oversight or whatever my invite has yet to arrive at Flaig Mansions, it’s unlikely I’ll need to brush up, on protocol, still I doubt I would bow, however I could and would willingly manage a nod.

Respect to the Queen for nipping down to these parts, and I’m sure she’ll enjoy the Turner Contemporary. I hope she also gets to use the HS1 from St.Pancras, rather than the Thanet way, avoiding any holdups.

For those who don’t know how to behave, according to the British Monarchy Website   “The Queen meets thousands of people each year in the UK and overseas. Before meeting Her Majesty, many people ask how they should behave. The simple answer is that there are no obligatory codes of behaviour - just courtesy.

For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy. Other people prefer simply to shake hands in the usual way.

On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma'am'.

Turner Contemporary No room for Protest Art

This might well be a what is art? type posting, a pointless discussion of personal preference. Anyhow readers of the Guardian’s Culture Cuts blog by Mark Brown, might have been mildly disappointed, to find that a selection of placards, used recently during a TUC “cuts” protest were not on display at the Turner Contemporary’s latest show.According to a posting in  “Culture Cuts” blog (only the Guardian could have one), posters were to have gone on display from the London anti-cuts demo back in March. This apparently all changed when the gallery ran out of space as detailed in the latest entry of Culture Cuts blog.A group from Goldsmiths college who have organised a “Save our Placards” project, are understandably let down, in fact Mark Brown’s blog posting reports Guy Atkins one of the students involved in the project referring to "a massive disappointment".

For myself, I’m also a bit miffed, I can’t do a blog posting on whether there is room to reflect politics in art galleries, but as a liberal myself, I suppose its a passion and that motivates art.

Still as I mentioned earlier, the “Nothing in the world but YOUTH” show does reflect a fair bit of angst and there is a reflection of protest in the exhibition.

Youth comes to Margate, Turner Contemporary and I go to Vue

Marvellous, joyous and er … well no doubt a few more superlatives could be thrown in the direction of Turner Contemporary with their second Exhibition “Nothing in the World But YOUTH”

Unlike the “Revealed” show this one has more than one contribution from an artist, I, in my somewhat sheltered life have heard of. Turner again was represented, with some oil painting, and 4 watercolours/sketches anyway being the latest Thanet blogger to comment I’d go to Michael Child for an expert opinion, Luke Edwards mentions one of his faves (Dexter Dalwood) being exhibited on his Thanet Waves blog well I mentioned Banksy and will probably remain disappointed for the foreseeable future.

Well for myself I was pleased to see a youthful contribution from Andy Warhol, I’m guessing before he got the job designing soup cans, anyhow it was pleasing to see how busy the place was, even more so now that much of the moaning has ceased, in the local press. The TC has had over 230,000 visitors since opening and more than 3,500 this weekend, well done.

Still I suppose we will see a spike in “Turner what a load of rubbish, blah, blah,” type letters in the local press, from middle aged gits like me. My favourite was a few weeks ago from some senior Bat residing in Birchington, “ I live in Birchington, all my friends had told me how dreadful Turner Contemporary was, I always suspected it would be rubbish, last week I visited, it was as I believed rubbish” , I felt like writing to the Gazette or whatever paper and giving a youthful reply along the lines “why the F*** did you bother going or indeed compounding your misery by writing to the local paper?”

I have to say that maybe YOUTH as depicted, did lean a bit on the angst side of things so maybe the old Bat from Birchington, will be more comfortable with this show.

Still I felt it lacked a bit of the uplifting innocence of youth or rawer yoof type preoccupations, which fortunately were more than represented in my choice of viewing this weekend (no work) Friday I dug out a DVD “Amelie” and on Saturday went to Vue at Westwood to catch the ” Inbetweeners” movie,coarse, bad taste, brilliant a laugh from start to finish.

PS Why did Vue, make me sit through 25 minutes of adverts for condoms, beer and more booze, next time the yoof at the counter says “senior” I shall say yes please, and save myself some money. I recon pro rata Vue had about £4 out of me to watch bloody adverts, if only I was younger

The Weekend - Broadstairs Folk Fest & Margate Soul Weekend

Pretty good for me, I think, I didn't get out as much as I'd hoped but managed to nip over to Broadstairs on my bike and soak up the ambience of the Folk Fest, and a had a pleasant rare break from work.

The festival always seems good natured and the people well behaved not sure why local business or the police feel it necessary to support a "Dispersal Zone" seems like a sledgehammer reaction to demonise teenagers. Yes kids are irritating and obnoxious but this anti social legislation wouldn't be out of place in any totalitarian society no surprise this was a Labour bit of control freakery

Rather disappointed to see banner advertising at such an important event after the councils crack down, particularly given the sensitive nature of Broadstairs Folk I must say this banner was particularly shocking, promoting as it does the wonders of Westwood Cross, given the complaints and ballyhoo about similar promotional items around the shopping centre. I just hope these have "official sanction" of the council otherwise, I'm afraid Cllr Simon Moores is going to have make another statement.

Anyway the Folk Festival gives this area a big boost, encouraging much positive promotion for the area like BBC South East Today "infotainment" show , again thanks to all the hard work of the organisers.

I walked into Margate, to take a gander at the Soul Weekend, spent an hour or so on the "Piazza"  the weather wasn't the best, although the music played by the InterSeptors was very good I particularly enjoyed "Proud Mary" and "River Deep Mountain High"  and well worth standing in the light drizzle afterwards had some deluxe cider (handmade by some noble family in Suffolk since the dawn of time) which was marvellous in that new bar adjacent the Piazza.

The Margate Carnival Soul Weekend certainly offers something different to the Folk Festival and it's not on the same scale however it dragged me into town, and understand quite a few travelled from up norf. I hope the everyone had a good time, unfortunately I couldn't get down on Sunday but understand that the carnival was as good as ever.

A few things in Margate could do with tweaking, one the TC's cafe seemed to be employing sales prevention methods, looking for somewhere to sit out of the rain, I took a command decision and dragged my family toward the Contemporary from outside Barnacles, on arrival about two thirds of the Cafe had been rendered out of bounds with "Reserved" notices now I understand they do an evening dinner from 6pm onwards so it seemed a tad overzealous around 4 ish .

A couple of contentious items part of Margate main beach been corralled by fences for what I understand (despite no signage) will be a permanent volley ball court (more on this later) with three new huts and more possible  "illegal"?   advertising and is it time to restore public toilet facilities in the old town which used exist at the back of the old Margate Council building.

Finally a thank you is in order to the Bar/Cafe owner who allowed non customers, the use of his facilities, also a thank you to one of my readers kind enough have a good word for this blog, it is much appreciated.

A marvellous start for Turner and Margate

How pleasing to see the hard work of all those concerned with Turner Contemporary, is proving a big success and the knowledge that Margate has started to reverse the decline of recent years.

Turner Contemporary announced yesterday, that it had now had its 156,000th visitor (the target figure for the 1st year), Edoardo Pacchett, from Monza, Italy was welcomed by the Director Victoria Pomery with a bottle of local Kent sparkling wine, Victoria commented “It is fantastic to have hit our visitor target so early" , hopefully even the cynical would agree the Director and that this is a remarkable achievement attracting so many in the first three months.

The benefits of Turner of course aren't all going to be overnight but here are some of the early positives highlighted by Turner Contemporary, 85% visited specifically to see the gallery, 25 new businesses have opened in the old town and lower High Street and SouthEastern railway report 30% more people using Margate Station.

Well done! particularly those who pushed for the gallery and those who've delivered a world class galley in the heart of Margate.

Lets hope, that this development is soon complimented with Dreamland, and that Tesco don't create chaos with their new store.

Finally a couple of points, many millions are collected in taxes from you and I, and much goes to KCC, Turner Contemporary has been that rare instance in which we've seen significant public investment, I feel we need more, particularly from Kent council who syphon your money into affluent West Kent, so ask your local KCC councillor what if anything they are doing to attract other investment? Second point, what a marvellous sight driving into Margate @ five seeing the sun rise over the new gallery, after a night grafting on the railway in a dark dingy tunnel somewhere in London see picture.

Contemporary Images to immerse yourself in

I've got to give up reading the papers and watching the news I'm convinced that the constant exposure to bad news, cannot be good for me or indeed any of us, I'm sure life at one time life was simpler, a "suspected" mass murder/war criminal, such as Ratko Mladic was just that, these days we have to endure the preposterous pleading by relatives, that someone who could apparently order the mass killing of 8000 in Srebrenica, is too dainty to face a court inquisition or the chance to explain himself.

With that on my mind I thought I had to avoid the evening news and having spent more time wrestling with my bicycle's gears and brakes recently, than riding the flipping thing, I got my bike on the road late this afternoon so cycled along the front and past the new gallery, ending up on the Harbour Arm.

Usually there is something to be seen in the units, and today was no exception, half way along is a gallery space with an exhibition of contemporary images the work of local Artists Brian Moody ( freelance photographer whose work has mostly appeared in Magazines such as the Observer, Sunday Times) & Denis Smith ( artist and photographer who has worked as an art director for top ad agencies such as Saatchi's).

Anyhoo the exhibition has lifted my mood, as did the sunshine, and the only bit of news I caught earlier in the day that Turner Contemporary has so far attracted 100,000 visitors since opening, despite the pervasive negativity from Thanet's darker corners.

Obviously not everyone's the same, but without the TC gallery other local galleries might not exist and if you can't find something to your taste, I feel you must be in a bad way. As a keen photographer with a library of iPhone masterpieces I can tell the difference between my feeble efforts and professional and would recommend you take gander at show and see for yourself.

Does this mean you wont visit again?

If your wondering to whom I refer, its Jim Davidson, a comedian who's has strong views on Margate, last Friday's Gazette had a story about Jim Davidson's Blog posting which appears to be criticising the Turner Contemporary, this comment of his seems to encapsulate his mood "What the f--k is an arty-farty art gallery doing in Margate? 

A thought provoking question, still here's another,  Turner Contemporary attracted 80,000 visitors during its first month, could Jim Davidson attract that many visitors to Margate?

Maybe he would and could draw that many, however the chances are they would be a different sort of audience, what he and others don't seem to grasp is that there is a market and demand for art, as there is for more traditional seaside entertainment, the gallery is here and has proved popular, Dreamland is next on the list, the two will help reverse the decline, I must say there is little I agree with on Davidson's blog accept about the Winter Gardens inadequacy as a theatre.

Turner Contemporary opens late on Fridays even Good Fridays

Turner Contemporary gallery opens late till 10pm on Fridays, why I don't know but it is a great place just to watch the sun go down.

Even for those half empty people, Margate a week after the opening is still looking more than half full. 

Just a quick note to regular readers, I'm not likely to be blogging much for a week or two for reasons you'll be aware.  However since I've been plugging away for more than five years, on pretty much most local subjects, you could always trawl the archives or click labels such as the one at the bottom. Turner Contemporary which will drag up 60 previous postings on the subject.

Turner Contemporary Opens

The Turner Contemporary was opened today by Jules Holland and Tracy Emin, a really pleasant atmosphere smiles all round, art lovers, the public, have today, been served up with what is a world class gallery.

Margate has been full of people like me who are doubly pleased, to see so many visitors, who looked happy and satisfied by the gallery the art shops, pubs, cafes.

It's proof that Margate is better than the spiral of doom and gloom perpetuated by many, and for anyone champing at the bit to wallow in misery, I suggest you get your bottom off the sofa and do what I did this morning walk down to the Contemporary, have a look, visit the galleries and shops run by local artists, have a  drink and something to eat.

I will be going back to the gallery its a great place, in fact I did go back later this afternoon with my granddaughter (9months) who seem throughly engrossed in the surroundings. 


More later maybe

Turner Contemporary this weekend

The Contemporary opens this weekend if we want Margate to revive, we need to be positive as the Turner Contemporary Gallery opens, and of course its no time for histrionics about rights, wrongs missed opportunities et cetera, the Turner Contemporary is the only game in town and in my opinion is looking quite good.

A couple of times when I've driven back into to town after work in the last few days I've had the urge to take a picture of the Gallery in bright sunshine and blue skies, reflected in the calm water of the beach and harbour, the only thing stopping me, the traffic and the limitations of the Iphone camera.

Last Saturday I had a leisurely, walk around Margate, starting at the top end, the high street is not as bleak, as has been painted in the press, once at the bottom its clear that businesses, notably arty shops have sprung up that didn't exist last year.

The town for has for a while felt busier, if only with amateur photographers although I'd imagine, a fair few journalists of the relaxed lifestyle art travel type, have also been trawling around, I myself I had one documentary maker spend a couple hours at Flaig Mansions asking my opinions, I think  he got all he needed, since he never came back, don't think I bored him witless.

Anyhow I realise that for many, they'd have liked to have seem some other way of enhancing the area, but Turner is here and now, enjoy and make the best of it, go along to the opening.

As far as I'm concerned, the only bad thing, about the Turner has been the delayed opening which can be fairly and squarely place at the doorstep of Conservative Kent Council and the original architects,  this should have opened four years ago, still better late than never.

Since I'm standing for the council and I would like your vote (Dane Valley) and just made a political point so best include imprint.

Published and promoted by L. Latham on behalf of on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, Flat 1, 2 Prospect Road, Broadstairs, Kent. CT10 1LD

First impressions and not much time

According to my countdown thingumajig on my Outside Turner blog, it's less than 40 days before the grand opening, I suggest sceptics take a look at the building preferably in the sun as I did recently.

Having just taken a gander a few points are worth consideration, of course the biggest issue is will it be finished on time, from where I was standing it looked as of there was a heap of materials to the rear of the lifeboat station, which assuming they're needed looks like a couple of weeks work, add to that snagging work then I'm wondering if things are getting a little tight, hopefully not.

Looking at Margate's readiness overall some items that stand out are the open spaces set to be tarted up shortly, the lighthouse was to have been painted up this has now been shelved, dreamland is a tangle of scaffolding.

Still in the vicinity of the Harbour arm and old town, things look more lively, and not bad at all, it just worries me that things could have been better coordinated, still we only had about 10 years to prepare.

Turner Contemporary and localism

This will be a brief post, I'm intrigued by reports of The Turner Contemporary launch meeting.

As you might expect, with the TC project so firmly rooted in Margate's heart, the "Launch Meeting" was held just around the corner from Margate's artistic and bohemian centre, in Westminster, a mere two hour drive away (start as you mean to go on).

"VIP's" including  Roger Gale, Laura Sandys, token Margate representative Tracy Emin, and I guess a rag bag of Arts council wallahs, devotees, perhaps even the odd non-dom tax avoiding patron of the arts.

According to Peter Burnett of Thanet Extra report on the House of Commons bash, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey  spoke at the meeting expressing high hopes and  "believes Margate's Turner Contemporary could become a world-renowned gallery" recalling happy memories of childhood visits to er ....Ramsgate!

I'm actually in favour of Turner Contemporary, but just wonder at the manner of its delivery, I'm sure it will succeed and look forward to its opening, but continue to be amused by the disconnect between local grass roots and its delivery from on high. If nothing else we should be grateful, this project is a great model of the British way of doing stuff.

SNIPPETS FROM TC TWITTERING CLASSES

Thanet planning calamity

Thanet council is hardly renown for its strategic thinking and planning has often been in the frame for its ability to cock up.

It seems that planning bods can never do enough for developers and the recent decision to allow a development of 3 storey housing in Margate which will result in the closure of the Pharmacy Gallery in the old town after millions have been spent on Art and culture.

What always surprises me is how over the years Thanet planning have got away with so much, a particular costly balls up, was the one in Ramsgate in which residents were given misleading information and never informed that a planning application had changed to allow buildings overlook their homes.

Anyway for more detail click here

Turner + Reminder- Tudor House– this weekend

Until such time as Thanet Council work out a way to make a quick buck from Margate's Tudor House, by selling it, once in a while this remarkable house will be open to the public for the the odd day or so, as is the case this weekend.

I have made reference to the Tudor house on numerous postings, and if there is theme in all this ,it is of wasted opportunity. Those involved specifically with Margate renascence, frequently use the this phrase "The Margate offer" which is almost as meaningless as it is irritating.

Currently if such a thing exists, the Margate offer, consists of one as yet to be opened but impressive gallery several years late, and a burgeoning art economy which has grown in expectation, however a lot of potential is still tied up in and held up in the future.

I'll believe in "the Margate offer" when Dreamland is revived in some way ( what's going on with that?), Margate has its museum back and those buildings like Arcadia Hotel and Fort Hotels are sorted not hidden ( are these really going to be tarted up by the Turner opening in April?).

My view is that much of Margate regeneration has simply been mishandled, too little to late, as with Arcadia, even the Milestone hand over ceremony of Turner Contemporary from KCC to the gallery trust was a private affair with a handful of the great and good on hand and apparently none of the public, who as taxpayers are paying for this, were on hand to witness the event.

One thing that has troubled me, and I note others is the finish of the Turner building, this comment from Michael Child made on Thanet Life "...I thought it was supposed to be coated with glass and glow"  or this from Amanda Baillieu of BDonline (Builiding Design) " And while the CGIs show the light bouncing off the building’s pearly cladding to evoke the spirit of  JW Turner, in the flesh it looks flat and charmless and cheap.

Since its out there, I'd like to know what happened to the outside of the building, this quote from the architect "....capture the same unique light that inspired Turner." at the time I understood that the building would be clad in some sort of glass with perhaps iridescent properties which would indeed reflect and enhance the buildings look, however the outside although white, looks dull and uninspiring and I'm sure I've seen a similar finish on some supermarkets and train stations.

Anyway if you haven't taken the opportunity go see the Tudor House, this is a beautiful building not built by committee the arts council or flippin KCC enjoy it while you can. Sorry for the late mention.

* CGI Computer Generated Image

Turner Contemporary how KCC manage things?

As I have mentioned before KCC, spends an awful lot of your money on PR and press. A typical example of this concerns the Turner Contemporary gallery, in what looks to have been a carefully controlled media event, KCC handed over the gallery to the Turner Contemporary Trust.

As someone who has taken an interest, I am surprised that todays event or milestone has no mention on Turner Contemporary website and wonder is this a result of KCC's obsession with the media.

John Kampfner the chair of the Turner Contemporary Trust, is a media bod himself, also Chief Executive of the index on censorship, an organisation dealing with freedom of expression, I just wonder if he could disabuse me of the suspicion that KCC invited along the usual complacent press poodles, who report on local events and issues.

I realise this is a time for celebration but one question that could have been asked, in tonight's BBC report  is how back in 2006, the gallery was I think going to cost around 12 mill, not the 17million price tag of today.

Margate are we there yet?

Driving along the front, Friday afternoon I paused for a moment to look see the nearly done, Turner Contemporary gallery and thought that this time next year, the harbour area would be awash with art connoisseurs  and wondered if,  the Kent highways/agency and southeastern railways will have the developed not just the technology but the blimin willpower to deliver travellers from London and elsewhere during modest snow falls such as those we have just experienced, like any other civilised society.

Will the TC gallery result in the renascence of Margate? Not alone, I think, it will take more, than the gallery, still efforts are being made, even small things like painting the light house on the Harbour Arm, with hoops which if nothing else will brighten the seascape even if it offends, Local Labour who recently appear to have a nutty nimby tendency. Local business cafes and gallery's are improving and particular mention ought to be given to those involved with the Harbour Arm I see this weekend, there is as is often the an exhibition, in this case by Martin Meyrick also worth a mention are Caitlin's Beach Cruisers (Bike Hire),  not sure if they were open for business but spotted one of their bikes tethered to the bike stands at the entrance to the Harbour Arm.

Any how, although not necessarily your typical gallery visitor, I can do the Tate Britain in a couple of hours including a cup of coffee and a muffin, Tate Modern in 45 minutes possibly less if I don't stop to mumble about most of it not looking out of place in landfill, so it lets hope local business and other organisations can rustle up other distractions to keep visitors amused.

One particular omission that ought to be rectified is the abysmal decision by local conservatives for whatever reason to close the local museums particularly Margate's, I can only imagine  of what pettiness or spite bought on that decision, perhaps Cllr. Bob Bayford leader of the council could redeem his apparent contempt for the Isle's citizens and do something positive.

Whatever rose tinted glasses, those involved in local regeneration might be wearing, the fact is for a whole new, type and generation of visitors, there wont be any second chance to give a first impression, Kent highways recent fanciful plans, wont matter a flying toss if we cock up the next 12 months.

Eric Pickles the governments communities secretary has suggested local councils dip into their reserves, and what better that dig up a few miserly thousand, for the museum, when there is always loads of money for nonsense like Thanet's CCTV cameras £1.4 million in three years, which allow council staff to snoop and spy on you and I as well as check, that their car is still safely parked for free in Mill Lane car park.

This time next year we will know whether the regeneration game has worked, Kent 's Conservative council is sitting on £100 million+ reserves, most of Kent's spending is carried out in the Maidstone and West Kent, they currently waste more than £5million pounds a year on self congratulatory advertising which I would argue is not in the public interest.