Hi - the May issue of Art Beat will be sent out on Thursday 29^th April; anyone with copy for inclusion (arts events and arts-related notices), please send it to me by Monday 26^th. Anything received after this date cannot be guaranteed for inclusion.

Please see below for new events and notices for this month:

TODAY!!! CREATIVE QUARTER OPEN AFTERNOON

CREATIVE QUARTER, FOLKESTONE - new properties available to rent OPEN AFTERNOON - Thursday 2-5pm. The Creative Foundation has opportunities for artists and creative businesses to join Folkestone’s Creative Quarter. Spaces available to rent include apartments, artist studios, offices and retail units. It is holding an open afternoon on Thursday 15 April between 2-5pm for potential tenants to view some of the newly refurbished spaces currently available. If you are interested in attending the open afternoon please email info_at_creativefoundation_dot_org_dot_uk or call 01303 245799.

Tomorrow, 10am to 4pm: FAMILY FUN DAY

Families across Folkestone are being invited to a fantastic day of thrills and entertainment at the Folkestone Academy this Friday. The event is being hosted by the East Folkestone Inspiring Communities Programme. Everyone coming along is guaranteed a great day out with an amazing range of activities including bungee jumping, trampolining, climbing wall, music, competitions and lots more fun and games.

Sunday 18^th April: WHITEHORSE FILM CLUB QUIZ NIGHT at The Chambers, Folkestone.

A night of cinematic brain teasing to raise funds for the film club, give some prizes away and have a lot of fun in the process! Its £3 per person - teams of any size and starts at 8.00.

Thursday 22 April at 2.30pm: FOLKESTONE DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS SOCIETY at The Tower Theatre, Shorncliffe, Folkestone – WILLIAM HOLMAN HUNT, THE LAST PRE-RAPHAELITE. Dr Anne Anderson is a Research Fellow at Exeter University and specialises in the Arts and Crafts Movement. She will talk about perhaps the least known of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, formed in 1848.

Visitors are welcome at £5. Info: e-mail folkestone_at_nadfaskentarea_dot_org_dot_uk or telephone 01303 239530 or visit our website: www.nadfaskentarea.org.uk

SHEPWAY RURAL CLUSTER ART DISPLAY

There is just time to see this lovely display by Year 4 pupils from Brenzett, Brookland, Elham, Hythe Bay, Saltwood and Stelling Minnis primary schools that is on display at Shepway District Council. Anyone wishing to see the display today or tomorrow should go to the Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone.

Talent Search 2010

The Young People's committee for the 2010 Try Angle Awards (Ashford & Shepway) is on the lookout for talented acts to support the prestigious Try Angle Awards presentation evening in July this year. Entry is open to all young people aged 11 - 18 who live/attend schools/clubs in the Ashford or Shepway areas. Closing date for applications is 7 May. Contact 01233 898526.

Try Angle Awards Nominations

Please nominate deserving young people for a Try Angles Award before it's too late! We're after the real triers and not just the high flyers. Every nominee will receive a framed certificate of achievement and the shortlisted nominees will be invited to the magnificent Try Angle Awards Presentation evening. The deadline is 30 April. Contact 01233 or 07795 495696.

RENDEZVOUS ARTMART

Everyone is welcome to apply for stands at the Rendezvous Artmart, Rendezvous Street, Folkestone on 4^th & 5^th June 10.30 – 5.00 each day. Take a covered market stall, 6’x4’ approx. at just £30 for two days trading. Initially, email your contact details with a description of what you make and intend to offer for sale to neville_at_pundole_dot_co_dot_ukk.

ASSIST WITH BARRY LEACH’S FILMING

People are invited to the Tower Theatre at 11am on Saturday 17^th April to assist in Barry Leach's filming; refreshments will be provided and a copy of the DVD supplied once the film is finished. For further information, email: pjwh15_at_msn_dot_com.

celebrate St George's Day!

Chimaera Gallery is inviting people to go to the Gallery in Tontine Street on the evening of Friday 23rd April (from 6pm) where they will be hosting a St George's Day event and a celebration of their current show "Forever England". The show features work from many local artists and showcases the dramatic sculpture and drawings of artist and Gulf War veteran, Glenn Fitzpatrick. Glenn will be singing copies of his book, "Arts and Mines" and also donating 15% of any sales of his amazing prints to the charity, Combat Stress. The evening will include poetry, music and even the odd singalong! www.chimaeragallery.co.uk

RE-LAUNCHING THE HARBOUR MARKET

The Creative Foundation is re-launching the Harbour Market as the Folkestone Arts, Crafts & Food Fair on Sunday 2^nd May 2010. It will have a strong emphasis on quality goods, excellent atmosphere and local promotion. The CF is happy to take applications from all creative and food businesses – for example if a restaurant wants to come and do tasters to promote their business, they would be happy to welcome that as well as local arts and crafts people. For a limited period the CF is offering a reduced cost of £10.00 per stall which will be payable in cash on the day. The markets will happen on the following dates, 10am to 4pm: Sunday 2^nd May; Sunday 6^th June; Sunday 4^th July; Sunday 1^st August; Sunday 5^th September and Sunday 3^rd October. Stalls will be allocated on an application basis. Please contact lucy_at_creativefoundation_dot_org_dot_uk for the application form - she will then let people know if they have been successful by Friday 23^rd April.

SHARED WINDOWS £400 COMMSIONS – REMINDER!

This is open to anyone who would like to design a display for one of the empty shops in Folkestone, Hythe and across other areas of Shepway. Anyone who would like to receive the brief should email: arts_at_shepway_dot_gov_dot_uk. The deadline for submissions is Friday 23^rd April. We will need to see what is planned for the display, a sketch or photos should be sent in with the application form but there will be time to work up the design, if selected, before displaying in the window. The non-commissioning part of the scheme is still open for applications too – it’s just that there won’t be funding for these! The key stipulation for both the non-funded and the funded schemes is that the people applying (individuals, groups/organisations, schools etc) must be living or working in Shepway.

DIGITAL SLR WORKSHOP – REMINDER!

Sunday 25th April - Digital SLR workshop part two. There are still some places available; the cost is £125.00. The course is all day and will include refreshments and lunch. Contact jdoddphotography_at_btinternet_dot_com

Events Around East Kent

16th April: Kent Folk Bluegrass at The Boathouse, Grove Ferry Inn, Nr Canterbury CT3 4BR - a Band Like Alice - London 5-piece bluegrass with Bob Winquist on fiddle - UK's leading bluegrass fiddle player. £8 tel: 01227 721736.

17 April - 8 May: Façade: art in public spaces

At the former Stagecoach depot site, Russell Street, Dover CT16 1PX - Sarah Broome, Nathan Burr, Roz Cran, Christine Gist, Sharon Haward, Jim Roseveare, Yumino Seki - artists' temporary interventions in response to the site and Dover's built environment. Open to the public each Saturday from 12.00-3.00pm. Visible from the street 24/7.

Saturday 24 April, 4pm: Roz Cran - Silence and Solitude readings at Dover Discovery Centre, Market Square, Dover CT16 1PH. Sharon Harward - dusk photo tour of Dover 6pm - meet at the Big Screen, Market Square, Dover. For information: 01304 372414; 0788 1441120 / 0795 8615 413; c_dot_gist_at_btinternet_dot_com sharonhaward_at_hotmail_dot_com

Thursday 29^th April, 7.30pm: LOVING APRIL –at the Theatre Royal, Margate. World premiere of Melvin Burgess’s novel. It tells the story of a young woman trapped in a world of silence in the strictly moral world of 1920s England. Box Office: 0845 130 1786 or 01227 7877787.

Best wishes

Amanda

Amanda Oates

Arts Development Officer

Shepway District Council

Tel: 01303 853464