A celebration of pride
Celebrating local pride during Margate Pride, with inspiration from local writer Rosa Rankin-Gee's novel Dreamland, upcoming poetry performances, writing opportunities and events.
PRIDE: First Friday, 2nd August 6-9pm
Join us for our August First Friday event in celebration of Pride.
This month we’ll be taking inspiration from Rosa Rankin-Gee’s book Dreamland by exploring local sites, the impact of climate change and LGBTQIA+ love stories.
We will see different perspectives on Margate’s most iconic locations through artworks by local artists including Charlie Evaristo Boyce. Dan Thompson will be showing Arlington House artifacts, including some key pieces from the original building. Plus, enjoy an exclusive Dreamland mini-zine including an interview with Rosa Rankin-Gee.
Explore our rising sea levels map to find out how Margate and its beaches fare in the climate crisis and join us in making a climate pledge with takethejump.org.
Friday 2nd August, 6-9pm at Marine Studios, 17 Albert Terrace, Margate, CT9 1UJ. This event is suitable for all ages, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. BYO drinks and snacks.
To find out about upcoming events visit our website.
Accessibility: find out about this event and space in our access statement.
More on Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee
If you haven’t yet read the book, now’s the time to draw inspiration ahead of our next First Friday. Here’s what it’s all about:
In the coastal resort of Margate, hotels lie empty and sun-faded 'For Sale' signs line the streets. The sea is higher - it's higher everywhere - and those who can are moving inland. A young girl called Chance, however, is just arriving.
Chance's family is one of many offered a cash grant to move out of London - and so she, her mother Jas and brother JD relocate to the seaside, just as the country edges towards vertiginous change.
Set in a future unsettlingly close to home, against a backdrop of soaring inequality and creeping political extremism, Rankin-Gee demonstrates, with cinematic pace and deep humanity, the enduring power of love and hope in a world spinning out of control.
“Dystopian, speculative fiction with a gorgeous and intense queer love story, complex family dynamics and characters with so much heart.” - Good Reads reviewer
Learn more about Rosa’s work via her website.
Looking back: Books
Thank you to everyone who joined us for another busy evening celebrating books for our July First Friday event.
The evening featured bookbinding with Hope Fitzgerald, origami bookmark making with Anthony Rendall-Davis and games devised by Jessica Rose and Margate Bookie volunteers which included an Oulipo-style Cento game that generated some great poems and poet personas.
Thank you so much to everyone for coming down and as always a huge thanks to Arts Council England for funding the work we do.
See more of the night on Instagram.
Join us next month for our First Friday event on 2nd August, exploring Pride.
Kent Poetry Championship Slam
Get your tickets here.
Kent's biggest night of poetry is back on the road! After storming Fort Amherst in Chatham, we're jetting over to the other side of the county to Dover’s Marina Hotel. Reigning Kent Poetry Champion, Ciaran Barata-Hynes, clashes with Chatham Slam winner Aaron Shrimpton in a head-to-head that promises to bring sparks enough to light up the room. Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa headlines the evening, making this a night not to be missed.
10 poets battling it out to get their shot at the Kentish Poetry Championship Belt and £50/£25 Prize Money for the 1st and 2nd Place.
Slots are first come, first served with an 11th slot raffled off on the night for those who were slower on the draw.
Living Legends (And Dead Ones Too)
Margate theatre and poetry lovers, you are in for a treat! Local punk poet Brigitte Aphrodite is bringing her show ‘Living Legends (and Dead Ones Too)’ to the Tom Thumb Theatre this week, on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th July. Get your tickets here.
Writing Opportunities
Flash 500
Flash 500 is seeking submissions to their Flash Fiction Competition. Flash fiction is often treated as the poor relation in writing competitions. This, however, is a flash fiction competition that truly reflects the skill required to encapsulate an entire story in just 500 words. Entrants must submit work by 30th September 2024. For more information and submission rules, check out their website.
ROOM Magazine
Room publishes original fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art by folks of marginalized genders. They are open to submissions for Issue 48.1 Humour. Submit your funniest unpublished poems, fiction, non-fiction, and black-and-white art. Send works that uplift to role of laughter in resistance, this issue has a rolling submissions period. Details can be found on their website.
What’s on?
Camp Book Club
Thursday 18th July, 7pm / Camp Margate
Join Camp Book Club for an evening of relaxed conversation around a selection of queer curated reads. This month: Orlando by Virginia Woolf. Free to attend
Writer’s Block
Friday 26th July, 9.30am-12.30pm / Marine Studios
Margate Bookshop Bookclub
Wednesday 31st July, 6.30pm / Fort Road Hotel
Join Margate Bookshop Bookclub for this month’s discussion on The Guest by Emma Cline. Free to attend
First Friday: Pride
Margate Fiction Writers Group
Monday 19th August 6.30-8.30 pm / Marine Studios
Join us for a friendly and supportive prose fiction session on the Third Monday of every month at Marine Studios. Share your work, offer (and receive) constructive criticism and support fellow local scribes.
Free to attend / RSVP
Margate Stanza
Tuesday 20th August, 6.30pm-8.30pm / Marine Studios
A friendly poetry critique group where you’re encouraged to bring and read a poem you’re working on and receive feedback from the group. Free to attend / RSVP on FB or send us an email