Thanet Experimental is a project aiming to provide free exhibition space in Thanet, as well as collaborate to promote art by Thanet residents and those with close ties to the area. We want this to be a testing ground – available for one-off exhibitions and shows, works-in-progress, and for the kinds of work that isn’t going to, or isn’t supposed to, make any money.
Galleries have costs – they have to pay their rent like everyone else. However, the cost of hiring space can severely limit who can exhibit and what they can exhibit. Starting in 2025, we will be partnering with galleries who have space available between shows, or who we can pay through crowdfunding and donations to rent their space for short periods on behalf of artists. It’s a win-win!
We will be putting out semi-regular open calls once we have secured enough funds to be able to make this provision available. We are open to all formats – visual, sculptural, installation, performance and sound.
In the meantime, we have started a series of online/social media collaborations to build an audience for some of the more experimental work that is coming out right now. As our audience grows, we hope Thanet Experimental will become a platform that can showcase all the great, weird, interesting, disquieting, thought-provoking and exciting work going on here.
How it works
- We crowdfund money – lots of people give a little.
- We put out a call to artists to apply.
- A panel of Thanet artists make a selection based on how much we can fund.
- We pay the galleries so the artists don’t need to.
- Experimental shows abound!
Year 1 Round-up
In our first year – thanks to donations and goodwill – we have been able to fund:
- 6 solo exhibitions
- 2 group exhibitions/events
- 2 art fairs
- 2 research residencies
- 3 independent small galleries supported
- 32 artists in total from Thanet and East Kent
Thanet Experimental 