27/01/10 HKD Move To Margate - Creative setting

Margate has long-standing creative links, from JMW Turner, who dubbed the skies above Thanet ‘the loveliest in all Europe' to the more modern Tracey Emin. The town is set to benefit from a multimillion pound regeneration programme, which includes plans for the world’s first heritage amusement park and the construction of the new Turner Contemporary Gallery. Home to a growing community of artists, Margate is continuing to attract interest from the creative sector. 

One company drawn to Margate is HKD, which specialises in design for museums, exhibitions and exhibits, and moved from North London to a Grade-II listed former casino building in the town in December. The project was supported by a grant from the Government's Meanwhile Fund to help with the refurbishment of the premises, and the company relocated with the assistance of investment promotion agency Locate in Kent, Margate Renewal Partnership and Thanet District Council.

Kate Kneale from HKD said: “A belief in cultural heritage and community engagement has always been core to our business, but we simply hadn’t got the budget or commercial space to realise this vision in London. Moving to Margate will enable us to share skills and work more with the community. This is something I believe the creative sector needs to commit more time to - it’s the way forward – and we think it makes us leaders in our field. We now have a large property with a studio, gallery for artists in residence and a meeting room we intend to hire out." 

HKD’s recent work includes an exhibition on the life of T.S. Eliot in the Folio Gallery at the British Library, Portraits from Vilna – an international travelling exhibition about the Holocaust in Lithuania, a new gallery on the Science of Fire at the Singapore Science Centre and ongoing refurbishment at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. 

Paul Wookey, Chief Executive of Locate in Kent, said: “Along with several other Kent seaside locations, Margate is slowly but surely developing its offer for creative companies. Firms like HKD are able to benefit from the town’s creative networks and support, alongside more practical benefits like cost-effective property and the vastly improved access to London via Southeastern’s high speed rail services.” 

Derek Harding from Thanet District Council, commented: “The project has brought a key empty building back into use and more importantly, new jobs and an enterprising company to the town. This was only made possible through the collaboration between a number of agencies and the owners of the building.” 

Kate added: “We chose Margate because we were impressed by the creative culture of the town and its beautiful buildings. The regeneration framework drawn up by Margate Renewal Partnership perfectly complements our company philosophy – there’s no way we’ve retired to the seaside, we’re expanding and exploring new opportunities – just like Margate.” 

For more information visit www.hkd.uk.com.

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