News Blast: Recipients of Pride in Place funding announced
The latest creative and cultural news from across Thanet, including Pride in Place funding, International Women's Day initiatives and more
The projects set to share £1.5 million Pride in Place funding, the new incarnation of POW Thanet, the Broadstairs bookshop aiming to boost reading for pleasure and more. Here's this week's creative and cultural news from across Thanet.
Thanet District Council has revealed the projects set to receive a share of £1.5 million from the government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund. These include Margate Museum and Old Town Hall, and in Broadstairs, Pierremont Park and the Sarah Thorne Theatre. Thanet villages are also being given the chance to bid for a share of £100,000, with grants of up to £20,000 being considered to improve community spaces. Ramsgate has already been awarded £20 million from the Pride in Place Programme and so is not included in this allocation. Find out more.
Thanet’s Power of Women Festival closed last year after ten years. On International Women’s Day next week, a new organisation called POW+ is set to launch. Organisers say that it will offer “arts and culture led programming for women, non-binary, trans and gender nonconforming people in Thanet.” With a community focus, it wants local people to help guide its development. Your first opportunity to do that will be at two events on March 8. Join a walk and talk from Nayland Rock to Margate Caves at 10am, then a bigger conversation at Margate Caves from midday. Follow on Instagram or email powerofwomen.plus@gmail.com for more information.
Zita Whalley
Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop in Broadstairs has been named a Lead Literacy Champion for the National Year of Reading 2026. Owner Nicci Rosengarten will head up literacy-focussed initiatives across Thanet throughout the year, as part of the National Literacy Trust campaign. “Becoming a Lead Literacy Champion means we can amplify the importance of reading across Thanet and ensure more children have access to stories that reflect their world and expand it,” says Nicci. Find out more.
Red Rebel FM wants your old vinyl. The feminist community radio station wants you to dig out that record collection that you never play to help raise funds for its sister organisation Red Rebel Collective, which raises awareness for premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The donated records will be sold at an event marking International Women’s Day on March 8. You can drop off donations at the Tap Room in Cliftonville. More details.
Margate nightclub Power has said that it was not forced to close down by its landlord. Notices appeared in the venue's windows this week stating that owner of The Centre in Margate, Evolve had taken back control of the building. Power owner Lexi Mac told the Isle of Thanet News that the club closed at the end of December, less than nine months after originally opening. She blamed licensing and planning restrictions for the decision, saying that it made the venue "financially unviable for continued use as a nightclub."
Feline-focussed art festival the Festival of Cats returns to Margate this May and organisers have this week put out an open call to artists who would like to take part. Paintings, prints, drawings, collage, ceramics and sculpture are all welcome, so long as they’re inspired by cats. The exhibition will take place at the Pie Factory gallery and online from April 30 to May 5. Submissions are open until Sunday, March 22. Find out more.
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