Margate anti-racist arts group seeks new premises

A community organization located in Margate has stated it must vacate its present premises without an alternative location secured. People Dem Collective (PDC), an anti-racist arts organization, has occupied a studio within Dreamland for a period of four years; however, the building is now slated for sale. According to a Dreamland spokesperson, the tourist attraction provided support to the group by granting complimentary access to the premises for four years, and the group received notification of potential eviction in February. Nevertheless, members of PDC assert that their organization cannot continue its operations without a permanent physical location. Victoria Burrow-Williams, the founder of PDC, stated, “Already for the black, brown and diaspora community, there is distrust.” She added, “We don’t have spaces, especially not in Thanet.” PDC delivers educational workshops in schools, arranges art exhibitions, and manages community groups. Kane McArtur, a member of PDC, indicated that the group has provided him with a sense of purpose. He commented, “Growing up here all my life, I always felt very displaced. This has made me feel part of something.” In 2020, when Thanet District Council obtained government funding for the Margate Town Deal, Dreamland was allocated £4m for initiatives, including those aimed at “diversify heritage assets”. Consequently, PDC was granted temporary access to its present studio, with intentions to establish a permanent cultural center. Subsequent to Dreamland’s sale, it withdrew from the Margate Town Deal, and the council reallocated the £4m budget to other areas. Ms. Burrow-Williams expressed her feeling that PDC has been forsaken after its involvement in the application to secure government funding. She stated, “It doesn’t feel right and I feel like there should be some responsibility about how we’re safeguarded through that process.” A spokesperson for Thanet District Council affirmed that the group has “benefited from four years of support from Dreamland in the form of a fully rent-free seafront space, with the cost of utilities and business rates covered”. The spokesperson added: “In the absence of this continued support, the council has suggested alternative funding routes to support People Dem Collective and will do what is possible to support their continued endeavours.”