THE KENT REVIEW
My feature for this quarterly lifestyle magazine (readership: 45,000+ in print, 54,000+ digitally per month) shines a light on local community voices. I chose to interview a grassroots venue deeply embedded in the Thanet arts scene- one that plays a vital role in supporting marginalised groups and championing inclusivity through independent culture.
MARGATE ARTS CLUB
by Sophie Serveld
Margate Arts Club is a radical, intersectional grassroots venue nestled in the heart of Margate's vibrant and multicultural Northdown Road. Prioritising inclusivity over profit or pretence, the club operates as a members-only sanctuary for the marginalised and creatively inclined – a beacon for those seeking refuge and connection within a growing network of allies. I spoke with co-owner and artist Luke Vandenberg to learn more about the club's evolving role in the Thanet arts scene.
Firstly, can you tell me how The Margate Arts Club first came to life?
I visited Margate as a child in the ’80s and ’90s, it was always a highlight, but I fell in love with it when I returned as an adult in 2013. We originally started off by inviting friends and members of the community over for potluck dinners. Then we got a vintage JBL sound system and a pair of 1210s, and we’d play records during and after the food. Eventually, it would turn into a bit of a dance party. More and more people caught wind of it [and] with every knock at the door; a new face would arrive. Eventually, in 2015, we decided to make it a bit more official and open up to the wider public.
What was the original vision?
Our vision was to provide a safe, welcoming community hub. We’ve taken inspiration from small social spaces in Berlin, New Orleans, and the DIY art and music-centred warehouse gatherings of Hackney Wick. Venues like the Total Refreshment Centre, Passing Clouds, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club – and nights like Beauty and the Beat and Lucky Cloud – have all informed what we do.
What does a standard week look like for the arts club?
It’s very varied. Depending on the week, often we will have a queer knitting group, life drawing, various other social or community groups will use a space. We have dedicated goth nights, Morris dancing and folk gatherings, experimental electronic events, then we usually have a disco, world music, Latin Dance parties on a Saturday.
How would you describe the community that’s grown around the venue?
Very mixed and diverse. I believe community spaces, social clubs, art hubs, night clubs play an essential role in building unity – they set the foundation for connection. We need places where we can be loud, be free, get silly and express ourselves in physical movement. Spaces we can showcase, experiment, find like minded buddies and meet people that expose us to new ideas and ways of thinking.
What are your favourite community focused businesses in Kent?
We are very lucky to have so many great organisations in the area: Arts Education Exchange, Ark, CAMP, Margate Pride, Quench, Tom Thumb, it’s a wealth of creativity here.
From intimate dinners to flooded dance floors, Margate Arts Club has grown into a vital hub for creativity and connection. With community at its core, it continues to carve out space for joy, expression and resistance in a time where it feels more important than ever to support local spaces that give so much back to their communities.
