Only in Kent & Hometown [Visual Blog]

Kent-based photographers have responded to the  theme of Only in Kent for a selling exhibition in The Front Room gallery in The Beaney.

Working in parallel with The Beaney’s Special Exhibition, Only in England, this body of work explores the unique nature of Kent’s landscape, people and customs.

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‘Home Town’ at The Beaney

Displayed alongside the Only in Kent exhibition is is one of the ten cardboard houses from the HOME TOWN project by Animate Arts Company. The house is made entirely from paper and cardboard and it has been designed and made by professional artists from Kent, in partnership with members of Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN). The house has been designed to represent what home looks and feels like to members of the group. They warmly welcome you to step inside their home and have a look around.

HOME TOWN by Animate Arts Company (creators of The Paper Apothecary, 2013) is an interactive installation, best described as a hand-crafted, cardboard neighbourhood – complete with houses, street signs, a post office and even an estate agent… and every building and everything is made entirely from paper and card. With houses big enough to step inside and a post office with its own postal service, this is a town unlike any other! Home Town is a FREE event and will be at the bOing Festival at The Gulbenkian, Canterbury on 27 to 28 August 2016. For further details, please pick up a postcard or visit www.boingfestival.com.

Animate Arts is a national award-winning arts company making high-quality participatory art projects, working creatively with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. They bring people together through art projects and workshops, by connecting young people and communities with professional artists, performers and creatives. Each of the artistled projects (ranging from half-day workshops to large scale public art events) is individually designed to encourage participants and audiences to find their creative voice and bring their ideas and imaginations to life. They passionately believe that the arts are a powerful tool to engage, empower and motivate people. Participating in Animate Art projects can raise self-confidence, develop life-long skills, connect with others and positively animate your day. 

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‘My England’ at The Beaney

Gulbenkian and The Beaney have been working in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network on a short photography project entitled ‘My England’. Young people from Sudan, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Vietnam, Syria and Morocco, who have recently arrived in the UK, have been working with photographer Jason Pay to capture images of the local area. As part of the project they were given disposable cameras to take photos outside of the sessions. These images are featured inside the Home Town house which sits within the exhibition space. The young people’s work will also be displayed at Gulbenkian’s International Family Festival, bOing! on 27 and 28 August.

Kent Refugee Action Network is an independent charity that provides help and support to asylum seekers and refugees, including minors who have arrived in the United Kingdom unaccompanied by an adult.

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Only in Kent continues to Monday 29 August 

The Front Room, The Beaney

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