Welcome to Gulbenkian.
Gulbenkian is the University of Kent’s Arts Centre offering innovative, engaging and high quality arts activity for the public, staff and students. It provides a key role in delivering the University commitment to public engagement and has a particular focus on the creative empowerment of children and young people.
Gulbenkian’s Story: Radical Roots & Dangerous Ideas
Gulbenkian is 50 in summer 2019, forged in a time when conventions were being questioned and traditions being challenged. In 1969, The Vietnam War raged, Woodstock raved, man landed on the moon, the Paris student rebellion was fresh in the mind. Young people felt they could change the world, the University of Kent was a hotbed of radical action, using creative thinking to find answers to society’s problems.
50 years on, Gulbenkian remains an organisation with a radical vision. We believe that young people’s voices must be heard and we are committed to providing time, space and opportunities for them to experiment, discover and create. Time that is squeezed from busy daily life, artistic space that is in short supply here in Kent, precious opportunities to speak up and change the world.
Gulbenkian is a powder keg, where young people, artists,
academics and communities meet and exchange ideas. As
these new ideas explode, we see confidence grow, careers
form, talent get uncovered, work get created and the future unfurl.
Our Vision
Gulbenkian will work with a range of creative partners to become a leading 21st Century international arts centre offering an engaging, innovative and high quality arts programme. We will act as a catalyst developing and curating ideas, spaces and emerging talent. The empowerment of children and young people will be at the core of our activity.
By 2020, Gulbenkian aims to be:
- Become a zero waste organisation.
– Reduce, reuse, recycle
– Implement sustainable food strategy - Improve carbon efficiency year on year.
- Increase digital communication and produce sustainable marketing materials.
- Encourage partners and visiting companies to supply sustainable goods and materials.
- Work towards achieving the University of Kent’s 17 sustainable goals as set out by the UN.
- To be a leader on sustainable delivery in the arts sector.
FACT:
Since switching from plastic to glass / can in September 2018, 2299 fewer plastic bottles have been sold in the Café.
