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  • What do we mean by OPEN?

    • What do we mean by OPEN?

    1 Oct 2019

    We’ve chosen this because it’s a word that not only reflects our programme of events in the autumn, but also reflects our values as an arts centre.

    If you’re a regular visitor, then you’ll know that we are open 7 days a week, that we have a café, cinema and a creative arts programme, that the campus we’re on is an open, beautiful space to visit, and that we’re welcoming and accessible with free parking on evenings and weekends.

    You’ll also know that it’s free to come in and that we pride ourselves on our friendly welcome to all our guests. We want to spread the word further, to ensure that all local residents as well as people who study and work at the University know that we’re open, because we’re keen that the venue is a place where people of different ages and backgrounds feel open to meet and share fantastic creative experiences together.

    Our programme for autumn 2019 has been handpicked to celebrate this spirit of openness. We’re proud to be hosting Platforma Festival, which focuses on the voices of refugees and migrants, we continue with a series of world music concerts in partnership with Music for Change, and we open up the floor to young people’s concerns and dreams via Youthquake. We are opening up our café for a continuing season of comedy, cabaret, music and spoken word with our female-fronted music series being a particular highlight. Finally, in December, we finish our Gulbenkian50 year with a specially-curated cabaret event, celebrating the stories and people who have contributed to Gulbenkian over the last fifty years.

    Throughout the season, we’re open to hearing other voices, opinions and perspectives. We hope that you’re open to joining in, to sharing your views and insights, and to listening to or watching something new and different.

    We are open. Come and join us.

    Oliver Carruthers, Director

    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

    ART31 Generate is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25. They steer ART31's governance, influence arts policy and practice, and programme the annual GENFest Youth Takeover Festival.

    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
    Two actors laughing.

    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.
    Gulbenkian Uncovered image 03

    Gulbenkian Uncovered

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

    Square Pegs 1

    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.
    A selection of images arranged on a wall

    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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