Newsletter
| 13 August 2008 | STUDIO VACANT |
| STUDIO VACANT We have a studio available to rent at our site on Chatham High Street, available from 25th August - 71 sq ft, £62.11 per month. Rent is inclusive of utilities and wireless broadband internet. Rents are payable monthly by direct debit. If you'd like to view the space please contact the NAC Office between 10-5pm, Monday to Friday. We will need to see examples of your work and hear a little about your practice before considering a tenancy. CONTACT: The New Art Centre, 272 High Street, Chatham, Kent ME4 4BP Tel: 01634 812108 Email: mail@thenac.co.uk |
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| 25 June 2008 | SUMMER FESTIVAL! |
| Join us on 12th July for our blistering Summer Festival! The highlight in our annual events programme brings with it a unique art and craft market, children's entertainments, live music and DJs and a chance to have a sneaky look around some of our artists studios. The fun kicks off at 10am and runs through to the evening. There is a fully licensed bar and hot and cold refreshments served from Chatham's best kept secret, Cafe Nucleus. Admission is free before 5pm. |
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| 25 April 2008 | Temporary Studio Spaces Available |
| We currently have 13 temporary studio spaces to let on a separate site we are managing in the town. The property is five minutes walk from Chatham Station and would be ideal for artists and art students looking for workspace for short-term projects or those that require extra space. The rooms are unfurnished and vary in size from 55sq ft to 332sq ft (rents approx £60-250 per month inclusive). There are communal kitchen facilities, on-site parking and a large garden for the use of all tenants. The studios are available immediately until the end of September. For further information please contact Jo Harwood, NAC Centre Manager during office hours: 01634 812108 / 07906 978450 / mail@thenac.co.uk |
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| 10 March 2008 | NAC CAFE RE-OPENS! |
| The NAC cafe reopens for business on Tuesday March 25th! Re-branded as NUCLEUS, the courtyard café has undergone a startling transformation in the last two and a half months – all that remains from the old café is the toilet door! With increased seating space, new walls, floors, doors, furniture and kitchen NUCLEUS will become THE place to stop for a quick coffee, light snack or lunch in Chatham. Retaining the relaxed atmosphere that set our café apart from the competition, our revised menu offers all the same healthy, home-cooked options as before with exciting additions set to get the town talking. And with the stunning makeover of the courtyard offering even more seclusion from the bustle of the High Street we are confident that our ‘outdoor room’, the only one of it’s kind in town, is certain to be popular in the coming summer months – pop down and you’ll see why our customers call the NAC an oasis in the heart of Chatham. And while you’re there be sure to pop in the refurbished NUCLEUS gallery, which will be celebrating its rebirth with a special showcase of the cream of Medway’s creative talent. Our exhibition schedule is shaping up to be our most dynamic yet with forthcoming shows from Graham Shepherd, UcCA, Wendy Smith and the much anticipated Museum of Tales. Watch this space for more details soon! |
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| 25 January 2008 | MY SPACE REGENERATED |
| Following on from the success of the Chinese Peace Flag painting project, NAC artist Fiona Watt (lead artist) and Kaz Macklin (Neighbourhood Inclusion Manager for Brook Lines) have been awarded funding by the North Kent Global Grants programme to run "MY SPACE REGENERATED' with a group of adult learners from Project Re-Ignite. Fiona says, "Throughout the project we will explore the journey from personal to public space and just what 'my space' might mean in regenerating this community.' Fiona will be working with the group and a number of other locally based artists in a variety of media, drawing on the unique Medway landscape for inspiration. Participants will record and document their creative journey using photography, sound and video and will produce a final piece of work, complimented by a portfolio in response to this theme. The project will culminate in a professional gallery exhibition here at the NAC from 10th to 15th March 2008. For further details about the project contact Fiona via the NAC - mail@thenac.co.uk |
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| 17 December 2007 | CAFE CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT |
| The NAC Cafe will be closed for a major refurbishment throughout January and February 2008. We apologise to customers and centre users for any inconvenience this may cause. We look forward to welcoming you again in March 2008. And last but not least, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! |
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| 12 November 2007 | LOLLYPOP LICKS THE COMPETITION |
| Laura Campion picked up a trophy at the Medway Business Awards (MBA) this weekend as winner of the ‘Best Start-up Business in Medway 2007.’ Laura, who trades from the NAC as ‘Lollypop’, saw off stiff competition to collect the award at the MBA ceremony hosted by Dickens World on Friday. Judges were impressed by how she had managed to grow her photography and graphic design practice from an idea to a thriving business in a remarkably short space of time – all without having to borrow a penny. The trophy, one of the three MBA prizes designed by NAC artist Wendy Daws and former NAC artist Paula Groves, now sits proudly in Laura’s studio but she is still amazed by her success. ‘It was fantastic to win an award against such high calibre businesses. It’s great that all the late nights have finally paid off! And the trophy is gorgeous.‘ Lollypop, which offers services ranging from wedding photography to visual branding, was formed by Laura in 2005 and she is quick to point out how her studio at the NAC had contributed to her achievements – ‘I started Lollypop in my bedroom. Moving to the NAC gave me a professional edge that helped my business grow further. Being just off Chatham High Street, the NAC makes it very convenient for my customers to visit me.’ NAC Centre Manager Jo Harwood comments, ‘We pride ourselves at the NAC on being the only facility in Medway that offers small creative businesses affordable space to develop their talents and Laura’s well-deserved success is testament to this. We are all extremely proud of her.’ Laura also received a cheque for £750, which she intends to spend on the latest equipment to enhance her business. She declined to comment on what percentage of this would come from a sweet shop. |
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| 19 October 2007 | Fort Invaded By Fashion Designers |
| FORT INVADED BY FASHION DESIGNERS NAC based fashion design labels Wastin’ My Time and Edlbruk will be showcasing their talents at ‘Regenerate’, a fashion catwalk show to be held at Fort Horsted on 25th October as the culmination of the Mode Future project. Carl Goodridge and Jay Shipley (Wastin’ My Time) and Elisabeth Edlbauer and Jimmy Bridges (Edlbruk) will be joined by two other local labels, Keep the Ferret and Kalikas Armour and two French labels Odonae and Liliza. The models will catwalk through the specially lit tunnels of the Napoleonic fort as a grand finale to the Mode Future project, set up by UCCA Rochester and Medway Council to provide opportunities for fashion designers from both sides of the channel to share and exchange experiences. Carl Goodridge and Elisabeth Edlbauer comment, “We are very, very excited about the catwalk show. It’s a unique venue and something very different for Medway. It will be a great way of showing people what we get up to in the Incubator and another fantastic event to demonstrate that the NAC is fast becoming a creative hotbed of original design talent.” Wastin’ My Time & Edlbruk will be previewing their spring/summer 2008 collections - customized and bespoke casual wear embellished with prints inspired by Medway urban environments and subculture. ‘Regenerate’ takes place at 7.45pm on Thursday 25th October at Fort Horsted, Primrose Close, Chatham, Kent ME4 6HZ |
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| 15 October 2007 | MUSEUM OF TALES |
| Chatham's Lost Tales find a home at last! The Museum of Tales (MOT) created by NAC illustrator Mark Barnes is billed as Medway's first 'cyber-attraction'. The museum finally opened its doors to the public today and renewed its appeal to the public to help fill it with stories about Chatham. The online museum, the only one of it's kind in Britain, will house a collection of illustrated tales about Chatham created in response to stories and anecdotes gathered from the residents of Medway. Mark's MOT project was the winner of the 2007 Chatham Vines Public Art Award, sponsored by Medway Council's regeneration unit Medway Renaissance. Since it's launch in July, heralded by two billboard posters on The Brook and Globe Lane, Chatham, the project has been causing quite a stir amongst the people of Medway. Mark commented, 'the response to the project has been incredibly positive. My task is to translate the material I'm being offered by the public into pictures so I can share what I have learnt with everyone. The idea behind the project is to get people excited about local heritage - there is far more to Chatham than meets the eye, believe me!' Visitors to the museum will find much that is familiar to them. 'It's just like going to a real museum. You'll unearth secrets, make startling discoveries and be transported to far away times – all without having to leave your house!' Certain rooms in the museum are still under construction, most importantly the Exhibition Hall that will house the collection of illustrated stories. The first exhibit is currently on the drawing board but the details of it are a closely guarded secret. Mark hinted that 'it concerns the only successful invasion Chatham has seen in its long history. I hope it will provide a fitting memorial to the rag-tag men and women that fell…' Mark is still keen to hear from people who have a story about Chatham to tell. He says, 'Maybe you know somebody from Chatham who has done something extraordinary in their life; you might have worked or lived somewhere in Chatham with a long history or remember something unusual from your childhood. It could be that you know something about the town that no one else does. We want to hear from you. We might draw it and put it in the museum!' Current investigations have distinctly subterranean flavour as the Museum Investigation Force tries to unravel the mystery of a secret tunnel network and underground river. Another puzzle is the frightening number of ghost stories reported in the shadow of the Great Lines, possibly linked to the disturbance of a Saxon burial ground in the late 18th Century… If you can shed further light on these tales please get in touch! Stories can be emailed to story@museumoftales.com or posted to Museum of Tales, The New Art Centre, 272 High Street, Chatham, Kent ME4 4BP. There will be a special publication issued in 2008 to accompany an exhibition of the illustrated stories. All contributors to the collection of tales will receive a signed copy. Please visit www.museumoftales.com www.museumoftales.com and pass this tale on… |
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| 1 October 2007 | GALLERY CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT |
| The NAC Gallery will be closed until mid-November whilst it undergoes a major refurbishment. This will include new flooring, lighting and a picture hanging system. Changes to the interior walls and installation of under-floor heating will greatly increase hanging space. Watch this space for details! | |
| 17 September 2007 | Chinese Peace Flag Painting With Project Re-Ignite |
| NAC artists Fiona Watt and Edwina Jacques have been running workshops over the summer with Project Re-Ignite, a group of adult learners from Brook Lines to create a series of Peace Flags. The project was devised by lead artist, Fiona Watt, and Kaz Macklin, Project Re-Ignite's Neighbourhood Inclusion Manager for Brook Lines, in collaboration with the Foshan Group, a voluntary group of local people set up to foster Medway's links with China, via Medway Council's International Relations Committee initiative. Fiona says ' this has been a fantastic opportunity to work with a group of Medway residents who might not otherwise be engaged with the arts. It has broadened all our horizons and we look forward to developing and maintaining, the cross-community links that have been made.' This pilot project has been funded by Project Re-Ignite and Medway Council, and supported by UCCA, Medway Dragon and Lion Dance Association,Yoon's Chinese restaurant and Friends of Medway Libraries. The project will culminate on Friday 21st September, the International Day of Peace, with an exhibition and celebration for invited guests at the New Art Centre. The exhibition will be open to the public on Saturday 22nd September from 10am - 4pm The flags will then be displayed at the launch of Black History Month on 30th September at the St. George's Centre 12-4pm before touring Medway libraries. It is hoped that the participants and their flags will join the parade to celebrate Chinese New Year in Medway in February 2008. For further details of the project or to view the exhibition, please contact Fiona via the NAC. |
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| 5 September 2007 | NAC ARTIST'S RIDE TO SUCCES SUFFERS SETBACK |
| NAC resident artist Peter Reeds plan for the opening of his exhibition at the New Art Centre Gallery suffered a serious setback when he was knocked off his motorcycle in a recent hit-and-run incident. Peter had planned to ride into the gallery on the opening night of his first solo exhibition ‘Peter Reeds On Tour’ astride his Triumph motorcycle. However, on the evening of Thursday 16th August he was forced to make an emergency stop as a car pulled out from a side road on Corporation Street, Rochester in front of the car he was travelling behind. Peter managed to stop short of the car but the sudden braking caused him to fall under his bike. The crash broke three of his ribs and caused £2000 worth of damage to his bike. The car that had caused the accident drove away without stopping. Peter comments, ‘I’m absolutely gutted. It’s a testament to Great British Engineering that I wasn’t injured further – the bike performed wonderfully.’ Peter, who has held at a studio at the New Art Centre since retiring from travelling the world as a senior marketing manager in the civil service, insists he is not going to let this setback ruin his exhibition. ‘I’m still very excited about it. I’m looking forward to seeing people’s reaction to the paintings, whatever they may be. I want to hit them with the excitement I felt when I first encountered the scenes they depict.’ The exhibition, which opens next Friday, has been subtitled ‘No More Brown And Green’ and consists of colourful paintings of Medway and Kent urban and rural landscapes as seen by Peter on motorcycle rides around the area. Peter comments, ‘There are lots of colours that people miss in the Medway landscape but I guarantee that after seeing this exhibition that they’ll never look at Luton Arches or Rochester Cathedral with the same eyes again!’ The exhibition, ‘Peter Reeds On Tour: No More Brown and Green’ runs from Friday 14th September to Saturday 29th September, 10 – 5pm at the New Art Centre Gallery. |
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| 1 August 2007 | NAC WORKSHOPS TAKE GRAFFITI OFF THE STREETS |
| The NAC will be holding two 4-day graffiti workshops on 21-24 August and 28-31 August to encourage teenagers to exercise creative talent responsibly. The free workshops, which will run on four consecutive days from 11.00am to 1.30pm, are aimed at 13-18 year olds and will take them through the whole process of designing a piece of graffiti art, from initial ideas to the finished product. The artworks will be sprayed onto freestanding boards. Led by an experienced graffiti artist and tutor, the workshops will also inform the participants of the legalities of Graffiti art – when and where it is appropriate to practice street art and the likely consequences of taking art beyond these boundaries. An award from the Kent People’s Trust, which was presented to the NAC by the Chief Constable of Kent, Mike Fuller, is funding the series of workshops. Jo Harwood, Centre Manager comments, “We’re really looking forward to the workshops. Although there is a serious message behind them – that creative talent must be wielded in a socially responsible way – the 4 days will be a lot of fun for those involved.” The workshops are free of charge but booking in advance is essential as places are limited. Bookings can be made on the ‘workshops’ page. All materials will be supplied. Participants are encouraged to wear old clothes in case of spillages. |
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| 20 July 2007 | VACANCY FOR CAFE MANAGER |
| We currently have a vacancy for a CAFE MANAGER to oversee the running of the NAC cafe. Candidates should have at least 2 years experience in a similar role, a food hygiene certificate, the ability to work under pressure and impeccable customer service skills. The position involves the preparation and cooking of a selection of healthy lunches and snacks, serving customers, cash handling, staff training, stock ordering and general house-keeping. Applicants must be flexible as you will be required to work unsociable hours upon occasion. 24 hours per week, wage negotiable. References will be required. To apply please contact Jo Harwood, Centre Manager, NAC, 272 High Street, Chatham, Kent ME4 4BP enclosing a covering letter and a copy of your CV. Alternatively you can email your application to mail@thenac.co.uk |
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| 12 July 2007 | NAC WIN ANOTHER AWARD! |
| The NAC have received an award from Connexions Kent and Medway in recognition of their support for the Activity Agreement programme for young people. Centre Manager Jo Harwood who collected the award said, 'We're delighted to offer young people a chance to experience a working environment that they might not get the chance to do otherwise.' |
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| 9 July 2007 | NAC GET CREATIVE AT THE KENT SHOW |
| The NAC will be at the Kent County Show, Detling on 13th-15th July in the Kent Gateway tent. Pop along and meet NAC resident artists and staff, browse the artwork for sale or take part in one of the art workshops we'll be running throughout the day. |
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| 8 July 2007 | SUMMER FESTIVAL KEEPS THE CLOUDS AT BAY! |
| Yes, the rain was sent packing by the sunshine emanating from our Summer Festival on Saturday! Thanks to everyone who came along, to all the bands who played, to the stallholders, entertainers, staff and voulnteers who helped make the day such a blistering success. Festival goers partied on until the small hours and special thanks are due to Mikey for his marathon 15 hour DJ set which kept us all on our feet despite the Kentish cider! |
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| 6 July 2007 | NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED |
| Thanks to the kind help of Rightmark Web Design we proudly present our ALL NEW WEBSITE! We will now be able to keep you up to date with all our upcoming events and exhibitions and anything else happening here at Chatham's Best Kept Secret! |
