The Margate School

The Margate School (TMS) is an independent not-for-profit postgraduate liberal arts school. Situated across a former four storey Woolworths Building that had stood empty since 2008, The Margate School by its very nature has become a new hub for innovation and creativity in the town of Margate and plays an influential part in the story of Margate’s regeneration.

The exciting local cultural offer, tourism and leisure facilities, cafes and restaurants somewhat camouflage the fact that we are also situated in one of the poorest wards and most pressurised high streets in the country.

Our theme of Art, Society, Nature, aims to provide socially engaged and sustainability-driven programmes, delivered through knowledge sharing, collaboration and co-creation, peer-to-peer learning, sharing of space and technical facilities and thus enabling creative practitioners to realise their potential in a critically reflective way.

We are rooted in community and connect nationally and internationally; we reach out through our academic programmes, events, workshops, residencies, guest lectures and exhibitions. Much of our provision is subsidised in support of Margate and its diverse creative and wider communities.

Since opening our doors in June 2019, we have welcomed over 16,000 visitors each year to a diverse range of creative events, conferences and exhibitions, hosted over 60 events & exhibitions; supporting artists from diverse and local communities, children and adults with special needs, designers, researchers and professionals.

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Inspired by thinkers and makers in the arts, design, the social and natural sciences, humanities and philosophy. TMS is inspired also by the debate around pioneering and so-called ‘alternative school’ concepts, such as Bauhaus, Black Mountain College, the Summerhill School etc.