News

Press release 14.7.25

‘Creative Maidstone’ open for community arts!

The Creative Maidstone Community Arts Hub is now open and was welcomed with a burst of colour and excitement over the carnival weekend.

The Arts Hub is a Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) project supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to provide a permanent space in the town centre for creatives and to increase public access to the arts.

On Saturday morning, the Deputy Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Brian Clark, cut the ribbon to the Hub, officially opening the centre which provides seven studio spaces (four studios dedicated to start up creatives, and three for those with more than two years of industry experience), two meeting rooms, an exhibition space and a retail zone for the artists to sell their creations.

The Deputy Mayor said: “I was honoured to receive the invitation to open this wonderful centre that will instil more creative vibrancy into our town centre. I encourage everyone of all ages to take part and use this Hub as an opportunity to engage with the arts.”

As part of the project, MBC has recruited a Lead Artist and an Arts Hub Coordinator to oversee the space and a team of volunteers. Together, they will be working with the Council to deliver a programme of events which includes temporary exhibitions, classes, workshops and talks. The Hub will also provide a unique town centre venue for businesses to hold meetings, as well as community groups to get together.

Lead Artist at the Hub, Christie Grant, said: “As an artist, born and raised in Maidstone, it is so important to be able to foster creativity in all walks of life, and this Hub will allow us to break down barriers and provide access to arts.”

Cllr Stephen Thompson, MBC Cabinet Member for Healthier Stronger Communities, said: “The opening of ‘Creative Maidstone’ in the centre of our borough really puts Maidstone back on the cultural map, celebrating arts and enabling creativity in the centre of Kent.  Leading artists, local teachers and a cross section of the community joined in the opening of our ‘maker spaces’, workshop tables and gallery area, featuring a sample of local artists’ wares for sale.  I was delighted to see that business interest is already coming in on launch day, while so many children went off to the carnival wearing their fantastic dinosaur hats made with our Arts and volunteer helpers.”

Following official launch, the ‘Echoes of Maidstone’ parade burst from the Hub out onto Gabriels Hill and over 350 people took part, including dancers and performers, school pupils and community groups, and culminated in a spectacular finale at Brenchley Gardens with live music on the bandstand.  Participants wore carnival headdresses which they created in workshops in Fremlin Walk and the Hub earlier that morning.

The ‘Echoes of Maidstone’ carnival was supported by Emergency Exit Arts and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and was an excellent way to celebrate the opening of this new community arts facility in the heart of Maidstone’s town centre.