Margate Made Christmas Makers’ Event

Margate Made is a community engagement and development initiative, set up by local artisans Sarah Gibbon and Lydia Martin, with the aim of locally showcasing and celebrating the creative work of people living in Margate, and the surrounding areas, and giving them opportunities to sell their handmade work in interesting, accessible, and affordable venues – previously hard to find in Thanet, despite Margate’s well-deserved national reputation as a hive of artistic activity.

Sarah and Lydia, assisted by a team of volunteers, and sponsoring-partners, are putting on events and activities that support locally-based artisans and makers in developing their own skills and confidence, and creating support networks and income generating opportunities for themselves. Margate Made’s markets and exhibitions provide the wider community with local opportunities to enjoy – and buy – high quality affordable artisan work, and to engage with, and learn, new creative activities themselves.

Following a very successful inaugural Makers’ Market Event in July 2018, in partnership with the the Margate Adult Education team at KAE, and supported by Ageless Thanet’s Community Fund, we’re now putting on another one, Christmas-themed this time, on November 24th 2018. Stalls and workshops are booking up fast!

This event will again include lots of artisan and unique products for sale (30 + stalls); family-friendly, and largely free, creative activities and entertainment; a community information stand; and Adult Education course tasters, also free – all taking place in the beautiful iconic Margate Adult Education Art Building in Hawley Square again. Entry for the public is free.

The July market event received tremendous feedback, from stall holders, volunteers, activity leads, partners and the public who attended. Due to extensive promotional efforts by our volunteers, supported by the local press and radio, the event was very well attended all day, exceeding all expectations, and we are working to make sure the Christmas event will be even bigger and better.

Margate Made is working on other activities including more artisan markets, and exhibitions, in 2019 and 2020, and is also collaborating with other community event organisers and local business owners, always with the aim of celebrating creativity and community, and their importance to Thanet.

At our artisan markets, we do not allow the selling of bought-in products. Small local independent service-based or selected franchise products businesses are able to participate in some of our events, and are always very welcome to participate in our affordable sponsorship packages, special rates apply for sole traders.

Local charities and community groups are invited to supply take-away information about their work, to be displayed on our Community Information Stand at our Christmas Makers’ Event, there is no charge for this service.
 

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