Seaside First Friday – part of Beach of Dreams festival; a very special collection launch; plus events and writing opportunities
See what's coming up in May from Marine Studios and the Writers' Room
First Friday: Seaside
Seaside towns are sites of dreaming, experimentation, and innovation - not the left-behind places we've been told. Come and explore the future of the seaside in an evening presented by Marine Studios with Dan Thompson's Seaside History Club.
Far from being 'left behind' and framed by nostalgia, seaside towns are sites of social innovation, architectural imagining, and radical experimentation - they're the places where England comes to dream, play, and imagine a better future.
For this special event as part of Beach of Dreams festival, we'll look at seaside towns in different ways. We'll look at their history as places of rest and recovery. We'll explore their function as borderlands. We'll look at the seaside as a contested place where over-tourism impacts residents. And together, we'll imagine a regenerative future, framed by climate optimism - as we design a seaside town for the 21st century.
This month, the day after First Friday, there will also be a walk looking at Margate's rock 'n' roll history (see What’s On, below).
First Fridays (est. 2009) are fun, playful, and involve hands-on activities to explore an idea. This event is FREE and no tickets is required – just show up on the night.
Accessibility: find out about this event and space by reading our access statement.
Where The Land Forgets Itself
Connor Sansby, poet, author, festival producer and long-time Marine Studios Writers’ Room resident, has a poetry collection set for release on April 30th, “Where The Land Forgets Itself”.
Since his debut collection “Promise Me The Journey Back” was published in April 2018, Connor has been reconnecting with his hometown of Margate and his relationship with the sea. Connor shares:
“Successive waves of gentrification have taken over my hometown, and what is left is very different to the town I grew up in. So often, the places I once belonged have shifted. I knew so much about this place, but now my belonging and connection to the place renders me an outsider. And yet, I could never have become a professional writer in the town I once knew…
Where The Land Forgets Itself became part journal of the end times, part diary of a mental health episode, part cultural study of a working class community in turmoil. Stylistically, it grew to resemble this; combining impressionism with stark prose and ASCII into something approaching word art.
This work will occupy several years of my life, and will see me collaborate with various musicians and filmmakers to produce audio, video and an exhibition, preserving the moment of becoming unbecome.”
Green Skills and Careers Workshops
The second weekend of April saw a collaboration between Co-relate and Power of Women Thanet, where 16–25 year olds could learn from industry professionals about what sustainability really is, and create their own green skills careers action plan.
Friday, at Pie Factory Ramsgate, was all about sustainability and the climate, and discussing what sustainability jobs are – and how to get one. Saturday, at Marine Studios, helped attendees gain understanding about how to get involved with local green organisations.
There was also a tour of Sebastian Cox’s workshop, studio and showroom, to see how heirloom furniture and a nature-first perspective can come together to create something unique.
This was a pilot project, but Co-relate hopes to plan more green skills events in the future. See the Co-relate website or follow them on Instagram to keep in the loop.
Permanent desk available – plus flexible hot desks and meeting rooms
We've always been a place that nurtures people and supports new projects, so we love it when people fly our nest. But it does mean we have a desk available right now! We're an interesting group at Marine Studios – designers, architects, community activists, writers, musicians, poets, and more.
As a studio, we have an interest in climate justice, and the impact of the creative industries locally. We run a public programme, with events for writers and our regular First Friday. We have a permanent desk space available at the moment (£100/month - easy in/easy out terms), as well as hot-desking and meeting rooms for hire (you can reserve your space using our online booking system.)
Any questions? Get in touch at info@marinestudios.co.uk
Writing opportunities
Comedy Women in Print
The Comedy Women in Print prize is open for applications, with three super interesting categories. Find out more and apply.
Royal Society of Literature Short Story Award
A £1000 prize is up for grabs in the Royal Society of Literature’s V.S. Pritchett short story award. There are 50 low-income entries available. Find out more and apply.
What’s on?
For details of all the monthly Marine Studios Writers’ Room groups (Margate Fiction Writers; Margate Stanza; Writer’s Block; Where to Start Writing…) please see the events page on the Marine Studios website.
Accessibility: for all events and meetings at Marine Studios, read our access statement.
Dan’s Dreamland Walk
Saturday 26th April, 11.15an / Margate train station
Join experienced history walker Dan Thompson to take in the real locations of Rosa Rankin-Gee’s book Dreamland. Meet at Margate train station at 11.15am, walk ends an hour later in Margate’s Old Town.
Free, or pay what you want
First Friday: Seaside
Friday 2nd May, 6–9pm / Marine Studios
Join us at Marine Studios on Friday 2nd May for First Friday as we look at seaside towns differently.
Free to attend
Hipsville Festival Rock ‘n’ Roll Walk
Saturday 3rd May, 11am / Marine Studios
Meet at Marine Studios for an hour-long walk looking at Margate's rock 'n' roll history, with Hipsville festival.
Free, or pay what you want / Hipsville festival
Book Launch: Adam Weymouth Lone Wolf
Wednesday 28th May / Faith in Strangers
From the winner of the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award comes an epic walk across the Alps in the footsteps of a wolf, throwing unique light on Europe's mountainous hinterlands at a moment of political and environmental change. Read more about Adam’s book online.
Tickets £5 / get your ticket online