insideKENT Magazine Issue 29 - August 2014 | Page 23

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

What is an arts centre for?

© Daniel Michelon

© Tom Medwell

by Allegra Galvin, director of Folkestone Quarterhouse
What is an arts centre for? I was asked that
recently and I had to think carefully about what
purpose the Quarterhouse serves in Folkestone.
There are hundreds of arts centres dotted across
the country, from quirky independent venues in
former churches, warehouses and public loos
(yes really!), to statement new buildings most
often placed in ‘difficult' or neglected parts of
town.
What do we hope to achieve by opening an
arts centre? The Southbank Centre, the nation’s
flagship arts centre, was opened in 1951 as part
of the Festival of Britain. It was intended to be ‘a
tonic for the nation’. I think every arts centre
carries a little bit of that original vision in its DNA,
and we hold on to the belief that an arts centre
is fundamentally good for the people who live
around it.
In order to fulfil that purpose, arts centres
need to inspire people through the accessible
presentation of great art, and enable people’s
own creativity through participation. There are
artists of every stripe in the Quarterhouse autumn
season, from experimenters, jokers, songstresses,
storytellers and protesters, to some that paved
the way and some that are just starting out. They
are each coming to Folkestone to share a unique
vision and talent, and we're particularly proud to

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have six outstanding pieces of theatre, with Forced
Entertainment opening the season in September.
But it’s not all about them. It’s also about
the people who come here to take part in
workshops, meetings and community events; the
students on the School for Creative Start Ups;
school groups taking part in Big Arts Day and
ARTiculation; and the young people who come
every day for training sessions with Kent County
Council’s community learning and skills
programme.
I hope you will pick up or download a copy
of the Quarterhouse's