Thursday 24 July 2008

Poetry Events in Broadstairs in Folk Week

There are several poetry related events during folk week including the following

Saturday 9th August 10.30-11.30am

Bards at the Bayside Brasserie (Next to the Neptune's Inn). All poets welcome to recite, hosted by Simon Vogel

Sunday 10th August. 3.30-5.00pm.

Maggie Harris discusses the fortunes of artists who migrate. With Adrian O. At the Balmoral wine bar


Mon 11th 10-11am

Poets Breakfast in the concert marquee (Daisys is not available due to building work), hosted by Simon Vogel

Monday 11th 3.30-5.00pm

Poems with Maggie Harris at the Balmoral Winebar

Tuesday 12th

Poets Breakfast (as Monday)

Tuesday 12th 3.30-5.00pm

Adrian O Words and Images. Reflections By The Waterside, At the Balmoral Wine Bar

Wednesday 13th

Poets Breakfast

Wednesday 13th 1.30-300pm

Poems on the Beach. Open poetry session hosted by Simon Vogel and Other Theresa at Stone Bay Beach

Thursday 14th

Poets Breakfast

Friday 15th

Poets Breakfast

Friday 15th 3.30-5.00pm

Funniest Poem of the Week. All entries welcome. The Balmoral Wine Bar

Friday 6 June 2008

Monday June 9th - Churchills 7pm onwards...

ThanetCAN have their next networking night on Monday.

This should be a great night out, with a pub quiz from 8.30pm with questions on the arts...come along, make up a team and have fun!

Churchills, The Paragon, Ramsgate

For any queries regarding the night, please contact Lynda Ryder 01843 581427 or 07749 572388

Saturday 24 May 2008

Oyster Poets Speical Event, July 6th

Oyster Poets Whitstable
Oyster Poets Whitstable
Oyster Poets Whitstable



You are invited to A Special Event on Sunday 6th July 2008 at 3pm at Lang Court, Marine Crescent, Tankerton. Bob Mee, editor of Iota Magazine & publisher of Ragged Raven Press, will be reading his poems and discussing the relationship between poet and editor.

There will be an opportunity to read your poems from the floor.

Entrance Fee £4
Drinks available

Directions - From Whitstable Harbour: turn left at castle, up Tower Hill. At end of Marine Parade keep left (between café & shop) into Marine Crescent Lang Court is on the left after the Green.

From Herne Bay: turn off Thanet Way at Chestfield roundabout, under bridge, left into Herne Bay Rd., 3rd right into Marine Crescent.

Lang Court is on the right after the bend. Car parking available.

For more details please contact Hilary Bussey: 01227 273375 or Patricia Griffin: patriciagriffin@tiscali.co.uk

June 1st Party on the Beach - all welcome!

Come along and have an afternoon of fun with fellow ThanetCAN'ers - bring food, drink, smiles, ideas and general summerness...

ThanetCAN Summer on the Beach
Click for larger version - and stick it in your window...


And a meeting followed by an arts-based Quiz at Churchills on Monday June 9th.

Saturday 17 May 2008

Writes of Spring Presentations

RAMSGATE SPRING FESTIVAL

MAY 2008

You are cordially invited to:
WRITES OF SPRING POETRY COMPETITION
PRESENTATION EVENING
WEDNESDAY 21st MAY 2008 7.30pm for 8.00pm


Winning Poems will be read by the Poets or Nominated Readers
at The Belgian Bar, Ramsgate Harbour.

BRING ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO HEAR SOME EXCELLENT POETRY
AND MEET THE POETS!!

Poetry Course at UKC June 7th

June 7th, 9.45 for 10.00am - 4.30pm
Course code ADT022
University of Kent at Canterbury

Saturday 10 May 2008

Architecture 08 - 24 May until 28 June

Architecture 08


"From 24 May until 28 June 2008, from Milton Keynes to Margate, architecture08 brings you nearly 100 building tours, workshops, exhibitions, happenings, competitions. As the theme of architecture08 is 'the art of architecture', you never know what revelations await you!"

Events across Kent can be seen here.

Despite "From Milton Keynes to Margate" in the description above, the nearest listed events are in Deal, Canterbury and Folkestone. Still, that's marketing for you... and they do look interesting.

Monday 5 May 2008

Ruby Blue wins Best Film

Not the Oscars (yet), but 'Ruby Blue' wins 'Best Film' at the 2008 London Independent Film Festival.

Ruby Blue


Director Jan Dunn and Producer Elaine Wickham took the grand prize at the London Independent Film Festival over the weekend (21st April 2008) for their feature film RUBY BLUE which stars Bob Hoskins as a man accused by his neighbors of being a pedophile. The Prize, sponsored by Prime Focus London, secures a significant portion of the post-production finance for Dunn and Wickham’s next feature. The two filmmakers from Ramsgate found critical acclaim two years ago for their self-financed debut film GYPO, and RUBY BLUE is their second film together.

At 65, Jack (Bob Hoskins) is consumed by past guilt and regret. His strained relationship with his son is severed on the death of his wife. Jack is lost and alone in his self loathing, and spirals into decline. Hope arrives in the unlikely form of eight-year-old, Florrie, a soft-natured girl who moves in next door and delights in his long neglected racing pigeon.

The 'love scene' from the film was shot in room 23 of the Royal Harbour Hotel, Ramsgate, and Bob Hoskins stayed in room 4 for two weeks during the shoot. All film buffs should ask for these rooms when you come to stay!

Art Exhibition at the Royal Harbour Hotel

The Royal Harbour Hotel is holding its first art exhibition during the month of May. From May 2nd the dining room will show off coastal oil paintings, many of Ramsgate, by Alan Welsford. Alan studied at the Slade School, University College, London from 1959 to1963 and was, until recently, MA Programme Leader in Fine Art at De Monfort University, Leicester

The pictures are here to be enjoyed and purchased! You can see some examples of his work here:




A POSTCARD FROM MARGATE

Margate Tile ProjectIOTA Artmonkeys are inviting local business people and their children to make their mark on Margate.

As part of the refurbishment of the Margate Harbour Arm, Artmonkeys have been asked to create a wall of tiles featuring the children’s designs under the theme of ‘A postcard from Margate’. Children are being encouraged to use their experience of living at the seaside and to look at the rich diversity of the area’s marine and coastal wildlife.

Through a series of workshops children can come and create their own design on a tile which will be put on the Harbour Arm for posterity. Each tile is sponsored for £70 and will show the business name or logo on a strip across the bottom. For businesses who just want to contribute sponsorship, local schoolchildren will be able to decorate their tiles.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a tile should call IOTA on 01843 853117 or email nina@iota-arts.org.uk

For further details see: www.margateharbourarm.co.uk

Thursday 17 April 2008

Poetry reading at University of Kent, May 12th

An exciting event!

May 12th

Rutherford Poets will read a selection of poetry from their latest publication: Stubborn Mule Orchestra, by Luigi Marchini (Winner! Canterbury Writers Poetry Prize 2006), Christopher Hobday (editor Canterbury Poets blog) and Gary Studley (Winner! UKC T.S. Eliot Poetry Prize 2007) has just been published.

The 76-page volume features more than 50 poems on a variety of subjects, in a multitude of styles, with free verse and regular metre. Honest confessions rub shoulders with flights of fancy. Written with a commitment to producing the best possible standard of work, this collection marks a plateau for the poets, and features their best work of the past few years.

“…the avenues and alleyways
of her waking hours…”

“…a night bird hovers, petal-winged,
takes perch on the tower for a beat then blinks…”

“…confusion of puppets
in untutored hands…”


Regular contributors to Night Train, members of the Save As writing group and currently on the editorial board for Logos, the University’s prose and poetry journal, these three poets have produced a startling, ambitious and impressive body of work. Stubborn Mule Orchestra sets the bar high for future local publications, and adds another facet to Canterbury’s burgeoning poetry scene.

There will be a chance to buy the poetry after the readings. For more information, and to see samples of their work, visit http://www.canterburypoets.bravehost.com/.

6.00pm May 12th 2008

Rutherford Staff Common Room
Rutherford College

Followed by Fairtrade drinks and nibbles (donations towards the drinks costs are most welcome)

Free of charge and open to all

See you all there!

Monday 14 April 2008

Haiku Day 21.6.08 in Broadstairs


The BRITISH HAIKU SOCIETY

is bringing a Haiku Day to Broadstairs
21st June 2008


Felicity Brookesmith will host the Day

10 am - 4pm
in the Bradstowe Room
the Royal Albion Hotel
6-12 Albion Street
BROADSTAIRS
CT10 2TZ


BHS hopes to start a haiku poetry group in the area. The Day's events include :

- a talk by Dr Martin Lucas (Editor of haiku journal Presence) about haiku
with reference to Stepping Stones:a way into haiku (the recent BHS publication)

- a workshop facilitated by Annie Bachini (BHS President) that will incorporate Lunchtime observations and a kukai and writing your own haiku

- readings by Felicity Brookesmith
from a selection of her haiku inspired by the local environment


Lunch can be purchased at the hotel or in one of the many eateries nearby, or you may like to bring your own to eat on the beach!

To reach the ROYAL ALBION HOTEL, walking/driving from the train station, go straight down the High Street to the end, turn left into Albion Street, and you'll see the hotel immediately in front of you over on the right. There are paying-car-parking spaces behind the station; on the High Street; and in the car-park at the end of Albion Street in Nelson Place.

RSVP

Places are limited, so please let Felicity know as soon as possible if you are planning to be there/would like more details.

Thankyou! Looking forward to your reply at


felicity493@btinternet.com

or write to her at

19 Magdala Road
St.Peter's
BROADSTAIRS
CT10 2TZ

Poetry Reading - 16.4.08

Table poetry readings this wednesday 16th April at 8 pm

Venue:
Belgian Cafe, 98, Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, CT11 8LP
Situated in the Royal Harbour, opposite the Casino and the Obelisk

Monday 7 April 2008

Margate Rocks: website now live



www.margaterocks.com is now live!

Margate Rocks 08 is a contemporary visual art festival situated in Margate, on the beautiful east coast of Kent. Taking place between 2 – 11 May, this year’s festival has the theme of art and ecology.

Click here to find out more about Margate Rocks 08.

Thursday 3 April 2008

Art at the Substation

Against the obviousness of obviousness / My friends and I couldn’t do punk, somehow.

Opening: Friday 4th April 6-9pm
Saturday 5th April 1-5pm
Sunday 6th April 1-5pm

Substation - Studio 1, First floor, Substation Project Space, Bilton Square (off High St ), Margate CT9 1DX

Map of how to get there

Press release

Upstairs at the Substation, juxtaposed on a landscape of automatic lifts that carry you through purples and woodlands of heather, an art exhibition finally emerges that reaches deep into the truant’s worst moments and turns him into a proud thief.
What is the thing? A species that flicks feathers into waterfalls whilst watching the truth as told being a lie: a flagrant lie of disobedience to its medium.

Don’t listen to the trolls…listen to the art.

Looking at the art in groups of five thousand and three, wavering over the icy grit locket folders, muscling in on the grave distinct figures and trip-fever blue (blue is light that glows, blows the blue wind), you sense its character is so deep that, at that very moment, Allah (everything combined) reaches its loving arms to welcome you to art. You will find the phligma of beauty and the answer specified, and influences taken from Ghandi, Hitler, Jude Law, Simon and Garfunkel, Madam Twanky, and many other misrepresented philosophers who speak to you in a profound whisper. Just tell yourself one day, if you will, tell it good massive one to yourself.

Dinosaurs and Greek gods may well have existed. (Can we say in this context that the name God can be used?) Many practicing artists would and should disagree. After all, they are only basic, and they do have to cope with having a skunk-like demeanour that cannot compare to the achievements of men.

This art turns its nose up at men because of their arrogance and impertinence. I base this on the Greek god Adonis and the diplodocus and Pythagoras, and the desperate nature of too many men in current society.
My personal starting point is that art rhymes with art. You can say that two words that are exactly the same rhyme because they do.

“So elegant in trance vision that bold undertones of paint with a splish a splosha A sad a splish splish splosha. I said from a splish to the splish to the splish splish splosha.”


Is art a trade? Yes it is, for the purposes of this ellipse. Artists of calibre whistle and sing whilst they work, and so do tradesmen. I will say it again, “To the splish splish splosha!” Can one man’s achievements be enough? Can every man’s achievements be too much? Only a frog can save us with the nerve impulse of a massive vacuum cleaner tied to a fence.

Many famous artists would say,

“To be or not to be? That is the question.”

Ah my friend, the age-old psychosis of getting dragons mixed up with dinosaurs. It’s a semantic disability, to see the lamp turned on straight in front of your weary eyes. Shocker. And then to see that the shutter has been disabled too! Some artists would use as material Tutankahmun being carried off into the sunset on a double-decker bus, just for the sake of one sentence of stupid description. You can decide where scrutinising politics gets us, but I can tell you where: no diggity. Nowhere. It’s the same with scrutinition politics of art; it’s like trying to eat a prune before its ready.

Honesty is the best way of viewing art, not sanctimonious people talking about honesty.
That’s not the point, definitely don’t try and be honest when you are observing art. That’s not what it’s for. Looking at art honestly will get you most of the way - just be honest and you can’t go wrong. Lastly, on the subject of honesty: Not the way forwards. You would be better off trying to turn a computer into Alicia keys, so let’s just agree with the idea of honesty in art: Oh man, it’s cool.
Gregor Lypiatt


Tuesday 1 April 2008

TROPICAL ROBOTS present THOMAS TRUAX

Friday April 4th @ Belgian Café, 8pm

TROPICAL ROBOTS present THOMAS TRUAX



"From New York City, an anti-folk legend"

"In a conventional world, this man is the superhero of nonconformity"

"A mad music scientist"

"Tom Waites' weird younger brother"


A true one-off, there is no one else like him as no one else in the world has home-made instruments like The Hornincator, Sister Spinster and The Cadillac Beatspinner Wheel which all look like contraptions found in a zany inventor's workshop. However Truax is no gimmick, he writes mesmerising songs and the noises these weird machines make set them off rather nicely.
In short, a must-see act.


A bewildering melange of garage rock songs, avant garde sounds and cabaret showtunes, full of whistles, toy piano, ice cream chimes and invented instruments... with shades of Tom Waits' storytelling, Nick Cave's theatricality and Lux Interior's howling-at-the-moon madness. - SoundsXp
www.myspace.com/thomastruax
http://www.thomastruax.com/

Video: Prove It To My Daughter by Thomas Truax

+ special guests:

Captain Blood Blood and The Sea Dogs (Leigh-on Sea, Essex)
Weirdly brilliant ska flecked sea shanties from our seaside cousins accross the estury
www.myspace.com/captainbloodbloodandtheseadogs


Sky:Lark (Margate)
Awesome ensamble shreading guitars through swooping melodies
www.myspace.com/skylarkylark

Southwood (Ramsgate)
Punk and role from Costa Del Thanet
http://www.myspace.com/southwooduk

Margate Rocks




Margate Rocks

The Margate Rocks festival of contemporary visual art returns this 3 to 11 May, with a very special public launch night on Friday 2 May. This year’s festival explores the relationship between art & ecology through a fantastic and fun programme of art exhibitions, family drop-in workshops, talks, films, music and events for everyone! There’s also new commissions being made for Margate, including one from internationally renowned artists, Heather & Ivan Morison, who represented Wales at the 2007 Venice Biennale.

Highlights include:

Sat 3 May
All day
Kentish Food and Arts & Crafts Market, and Street Festival.
FREE, Market Place and High Street

Sat 3 and Sun 4 May
Various times
The Magnificent Revolution present the Cycling Cinema – watch films on the UK’s only bicycle powered cinema!
FREE, The Pie Factory

Sat 3 May
9-10pm
His Dark Materials – A late night café-style talk with materials scientist, Dr Mark Miodownik, of the Materials Library at Kings College London and Tate Modern.
FREE, Café G

Mon 5 May
7.30pm
Billy Childish’s May Day Music Show – Catch a rare performance by this internationally cult musician, artist and poet at The Theatre Royal Margate.
Tickets £10, Theatre Royal Margate, call 01227 787 787 to book or buy on the door

Thurs 8 May
2-6pm
Green filmmaking master classes led by internationally acclaimed activist filmmaker, Franny Armstrong. Followed by an intimate screening of her award-winning film, ‘Drowned Out’.
FREE, booking essential. Email mailto:charlie@margaterocks.com

To find out more about Margate Rocks visit www.margaterocks.com or email hello@margaterocks.com

Monday 24 March 2008

Ramsgate Spring Festival


RAMSGATE SPRING FESTIVAL


FESTIVAL LAUNCH NIGHT: 1 May 2008 from 7.30PM

FESTIVAL VENUE: The Belgian Bar, Ramsgate Harbour

FESTIVAL THEME: SPRING


To Spring - Spring - A Spring
I Spring -You Sprang - We All Sprung Together!


SPRING SONG
Every Thursday evening in May at 7.30pm, All Styles of Music
COME & LISTEN OR MAKE YOUR OWN MUSIC. Open Mike arrangements.
Contact Ruth Cutler: 01843 591081 to book your place.

SPRING INTO ART
EXHIBITION OF VISUAL ARTS From 1 May to 31 May 2008 at The Belgian Bar. Work Invited based on Festival Theme of SPRING. Reception Days: 29 & 30 April 10.00am – 5.00pm.
ALL WORK MUST BE READY TO HANG
A Cash Contribution to the Belgian Bar is requested for any work sold during The Festival.
Contact: Ruth Cutler: 01843 591081.

WRITES OF SPRING - POETRY COMPETITION
On the Festival Theme of SPRING. All work must be typed, no more than 40 lines per poem. Your Name and Contact Details on the reverse side of each poem. Maximum of 6 poems per entry. THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE

Winning Poems will be read at The Belgian Bar by yourself or a nominated reader on Wednesday 21 May 2008 from 7.30pm - CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: 30 APRIL 2008
Please send your entries to:
Margaret Swan, 20 Pegwell Close, Ramsgate, CT11 0NB


Calendar Update

It's a bit of a shock, but the Calendar has been updated with dates for a range of cultural activities - Ramsgate Spring Festival, Thanet's Own Poets, Broadstairs Writers' Circle, Spring Into Art and Writes of Spring (a poetry competition).

Mode dates of local interst and excitement will be added over the next few days, but if you know of an event that should be there, LET US KNOW. An email to events@thanetcan.org.uk will do the trick, just provide all the infromation you have (what, where and when would be the minimum).



Have a look, go along, participate, tell your friends etc etc...

Friday 7 March 2008

Balkan Belly Burlesque at the Belgian Bar

How can you not want to see this? Go. Enjoy. Wobble.

Balkan Bely Burlesque