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Christmas closure from 20 Dec

Gulbenkian is closed from Fri 20 Dec for the Christmas period. Our Cafe reopens on Thu 2 Jan and our event programme restarts from Mon 13 Jan.

GENFest 2024 – Kent’s Youth Takeover Festival!

  • What's on: Live events
  • GENFest 2024 – Kent’s Youth Takeover Festival!

    • If you are aged 13-25, GENFest is for you. This is the festival curated by young people for young people, giving a dedicated platform to young creative voices in Kent.

    It’s a place to connect with and meet new friends, enjoy a day of live festival performances and pick up new skills in our artist-led workshops.

    Live performances include new work from Square Pegs Arts, Oida Theatre, Unsettled Theatre, Confidance and Icon Youth Theatre plus a stand up comedy show with some of the best up and coming young comedians!

    You can also check out amazing new music talent with local bands and artists showcasing their work on the GENFest music stage! As well as film screenings in Gulbenkian cinema of new work from brilliant local young filmmakers, including ‘Henry’s Room’ by students from University of Kent.

    There will also be a whole host of FREE artist-led workshops, including street dance, graffiti, cyanotypes, songwriting and even a singing workshop from the original, West End Tracy Turnblad, from Hairspray the Musical!

    And our very own GENFest Art Exhibition in Colyer-Fergusson Foyer from local young people including: Luca Fasulo, St John’s School, Dover SmART, Sophie Chan, Eraj Fatima and GYG art group.

    The day kicks off at 12pm with events running until 8pm, including live music on our outdoor stage and an outdoor BBQ and bar available.

    GENFest is totally FREE but due to limited capacity we encourage you to book tickets for performances and workshops beforehand online.

    Access scheme members please log in to access support provider ticket online.  Find out more about Access and the Access Scheme at Gulbenkian

    Schedule for GENFest

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    ART31

    ART31 takes its name from Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, which states that ‘Children have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities’.

    ART31 is a vision created with, by, and for young people in Kent, championing the belief that all children and young people have an entitlement to access high quality arts and culture, to empower them to achieve their creative potential, and to genuinely engage young people as equal partners in any decision making that affects them.

    The ART31 Youth Board is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25 who steer its governance, and influence policy and practice across the county and beyond, challenging the creative sector to examine existing ways of working and integrate young people into the core of their practice.

    Our projects with young people

    GENFest Young people posing in a cardboard Instagram frame

    ART31 Generate

    Youth Theatre

    Fantastic and fun sessions for ages 13-18 years, encouraging creativity and theatre-making skills.

    Live Streaming film equipment.

    SCREEN31

    Screen31 is a group for young people aged 15-25 interested in developing their film-making skills.
    TECH31

    TECH31

    TECH31 provides free practical training in technical theatre for ages 13 - 25
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    National Theatre Connections – Gulbenkian Young Company

    NT Connections is the National Theatre’s nationwide youth theatre festival. Each year it offers a unique opportunity for youth theatres and school theatre groups to stage new plays written for young people by some of theatre’s most exciting playwrights, and to perform in leading theatres across the UK.
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    Gulbenkian Uncovered

    Are you enthusiastic, committed and creative? Gulbenkian Uncovered gives University of Kent students the chance to programme films and run events.

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    Square Pegs Arts

    Square Pegs Arts are an award winning charity who provide drama groups, music projects and other accessible Arts opportunities for children and young adults who have learning disabilities and autism, and produce original, inspiring, challenging Theatre. Difference is celebrated and everyone is supported to shine in their own way.
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    KRAN Fam

    KRAN Fam is a drama group in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network for young refugees and asylum-seekers.

    Accessible Film Club

    Relaxed Screenings

    Monthly film screenings that are open to all, especially those with autism and learning disabilities.

    Young People - Screen31 ARTY31

    ARTY31

    Gulbenkian’s ARTY31 group is for young people aged 8-12 with a wide variety of arts interests.

    Film tickets

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