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University of Kent casts creative spell in Margate's Old Town

The University of Kent's Creative Events consultancy wing is playing a key role in the transformation of a part of Margate's Old Town.

The consultancy, based at the Medway campus, is working with the Whole Hog Celebratory Arts Company to create a series of 'magic window' displays that will brighten up many of the area's empty properties and boarded-up shopfronts.

The project, called Window on the Future, is part of an ongoing campaign to highlight the potential of a historic part of Margate. Windows designed by the Whole Hog company are based on fairy tales and folklore, and include characters from Sleeping Beauty, the Snow Goose and the Little Mermaid in the displays.

In its role as a broker and advisor, the University's creative consultancy - headed by Jo Tuffs - also teamed up with Margate Town Partnership and put together a successful bid for funding the project.

The consultancy service runs alongside the University's Creative Events degree programme and helps businesses, local authorities and other organisations to stage imaginative and artistic events.

Ms Tuffs said the magic windows campaign was a good example of the Creative Events consultancy bringing together artistic talent and commercial enterprise, for the benefit of the whole community. 'It's satisfying that we can help organisations such as the Whole Hog Celebratory Arts Company achieve their artistic dreams, and, at the same time, use their talents to help transform a once-beautiful part of Margate,' she said.

'We hope that people will be intrigued and charmed by the weird and wonderful creations that will start appearing in windows in Margate's Old Town.'

The artists from Whole Hog also ran a series of workshops for the Margate-based Mencap group while they made their creations for the shop windows.

The Creative Events degree programme teaches students the artistic and business skills needed to produce a range of high-profile events such as carnivals, street festivals, processions, product launches, banquets and light shows.

Creative Events students also have use of their own special art and design studio, called the Galvanising Shop, based at Chatham's Historic Dockyard.

Contact: N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 1:29pm 3 January 2008