WE'RE TAKING A PAUSE FOR CONSULTATION & REFLECTION IN 2025
The Margate School of Art and the team behind the Festival have decided to take a pause this year, to consult with our partners in the creative industry, arts education and crucially the community in Margate. After three years of producing the festival we feel it’s time to reflect, and reimagine the future of the Margate Festival of Design, and consider opportunities to grow the festival with a renewed purpose and direction. This time will allow us to come back with exciting festival plans to share with you in 2026.
MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Margate Festival of Design is an annual festival of talks, workshops and exhibitions which began in 2022. The festival invites students, educators, creative professionals and the wider community to celebrate and explore inspiring design projects and innovations that can help create a better future for people and planet, in Margate, Thanet and beyond.
The festival is produced by The Margate School of Art, an independent art school founded on the principle that creativity, in all its forms, must connect with and benefit society and nature.
KARRIE FRANSMAN
Karrie Fransman’s comics have been published by The United Nations, The Guardian, The Times, the BBC, The Arts Council and The British Red Cross. She has published 4 books including ‘Gender Swapped Fairy Tales’ (2020)
MICHAEL JOHNSON
Founder of Johnson Banks, an agency with 100% not-for-profit clients. They work with the cultural, climate, education, charity and philanthropic sectors globally. Michael’s mantra is to ‘do great work for good people’.
KIM LAWRIE
Kim Lawrie was most recently Head of Creative and Emerging Tech at House 337. Kim is a passionate advocate for neurodiverse creatives in the industry and has spoke publicly about her own experience as an autistic person.
Please contact festival@themargateschool.com to DISCUSS BEING PART OF THE FESTIVAL IN 2026
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ABOUT THE MARGATE SCHOOL
The Margate School of Art is an independent not-for-profit postgraduate liberal arts school located in the former Woolworths building on Margate’s High Street.
Since opening its doors in June 2019 the School has become a thriving creative hub for the local community, and continues to play an influential role in the regeneration of the town.
The School offers a range of part-time courses, short courses and creative residences. It also provides affordable studio spaces and specialist facilities to local creatives including two fully equipped dark rooms, 3D printing, kiln and screen-printing studio. It hosts events, workshops, lectures and exhibitions all year round in the newly renovated gallery.
This year the School is excited to be producing the third Margate Festival of Design. The vision for the festival is to create a space where design education, industry and the local community can come together, exchange ideas and bring about positive change.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 25/26 COURSES
The School is now accepting applications for courses starting in October 2025 and January 2026.
FESTIVAL SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
