LGBT+ History Month 2022 - Exhibition Open Call

In support of the upcoming LGBT+ History Month (lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk) in February 2022 The Margate School (TMS) would like to offer our gallery space to an artist or group of artists to create a show of artworks that explore the history of the LGBT+ community in some way. We are particularly keen to hear from local LGBT+ artists and other under-represented groups.

Our vision is to continue supporting and developing projects involving diverse creative communities encouraging local and wider engagement, such as Margate Pride. For this call we will cover the cost of the gallery space for exhibiting artwork. For an artist talk we will be contributing £100.

What we need from you:

An accompanying activity to better understand you and your artistic practice, which could take the form of an exhibition and/or an artist talk and/or a creative workshop.

The Margate School is a multifunctional space and can facilitate a wide range of artworks - all art forms are welcome to be submitted. Please be as clear and as detailed as possible in your submission on how you intend to install and display the artworks in the show.

As a nonprofit operating on a tight budget, we are unfortunately unable to assist with the cost of the exhibition, transportation of artworks to and from the gallery, or the cost of framing any of the artworks in the show.

The exhibition will be on display for one week (21 — 28 February 2022), and The Margate School will promote the exhibition online and posters publicised locally. A private view of the show is also encouraged to introduce the exhibition and artists involved.

LGBT+ History Month (lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk)

About The Margate School

The Margate School is an independent not-for-profit postgraduate arts school, based in and for Margate. TMS offers the first accredited European Fine Art programme in the UK and last year, launched a postgraduate Visual Communication course. We offer an alternative to traditional teaching at mainstream universities and focus on project based collaborative outcomes.

Our studios represent an extension of our teaching provision, providing space for growing businesses, technical support and advice, and developing prototyping facilities.

We are rooted in our community and connect nationally and internationally; we reach out through our academic programmes, events, workshops, residencies, guest lectures and exhibitions. Much of our provision is subsidised in support of Margate and its diverse creative and wider communities. You can read more about what we do and the School’s ethos below.

We have been able to support communities through public grants, sponsorship and support, income generated independently, time and effort offered by staff and volunteers as well as collaborating with a range of partners.

We have revived a key derelict high street building, empty since 2008 and since our opening in 2019 we have welcomed over 28,000 visitors, held 45 exhibitions and 42 events, ran 28 courses, supported 120 artists and are now home to 77 creative professionals and growing.

We have developed the first European MA in Fine Art qualification in the UK. Supported and worked with artists from diverse communities, prisoners and ex-prisoners, local community artists, children and people with special needs. Artist, designers, researchers and professionals who have exhibited and/or talked at and supported the School incl Arnold Schwartzman OBE RDI, Tracy Emin CBE RA, Jules Pretty OBE, John Newbigin OBE, Ian Harvey, Anthony Burrill, Anthony Heywood, June Mineyama-Smithson, Justin Burns, Robert Hewison and the late Martin John Lambie-Nairn RDI.

If you are interested in collaborating, please submit one A4 page - around 500 words which introduces who you are, your work and what you intend to do for the open call - along with up to three relevant images and any online links which introduces your practice. Each image should be accompanied by some short text describing what they mean.

Submit your application no later than midnight on 13.02.2022 to our exhibition’s coordinator Lisa Hawkins - lisa@themargateschool.com.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with TMS at 01843 838421.