Creative tourism in Kent – workshop to bring together tourism and creative providers

October’s ‘Escape to Create in Whitstable’  is now over but I’m already planning the next one  – watch this space!   I’ve really enjoyed working with all the workshop leaders and have also met some wonderful people who escaped to create.  I even found time to be creative myself and designed and printed a couple of bags at The Print Block , Whitstable’s newest creative venue.

I now need to fnalise my presentation for the creative tourism workshop I’m delivering for Visit Kent later this month.  As regular readers know, I have been passionate about trying to develop creative tourism in Kent for a long time. I’m really pleased that Visit Kent are now well and truly supporting this initiative by working with me to run a creative tourism workshop that will bring together tourism providers, along Kent’s coast, wth creative people (working and living in Kent).  The aim is to encourage people to work together to develop creative tourism products to add to the existing vibrant cultural offer that you can find along the Kent coast.

If you are a visual artist or crafter, with experience of running workshops or teaching adults in visual arts and crafts subjects, live or work in Kent, and are  interested in participating please contact me.

Finalising the details for the next ‘Escape to Create in Whitstable’

The next ‘Escape to Create in Whitstable’ will take place at  Horsebridge Arts Centre from Saturday 24 October until Sunday 1 November and will offer a range of arts and crafts workshops, many with a coastal theme.

Potential workshop leaders offering visual arts and crafts subjects should contact me before Tuesday 22 September at catriona@createinkent.co.uk to receive further information.

 

See Create in Whitstable for details about the first ‘Escape’ that took place in July during the Whitstable Oyster Festival.

 

Please note that we do not have a facility for firing clay and so unfortunately at the moment we will not be offering pottery or ceramics workshops.

 

I’m also considering offering a baby/child sitting service for parents who want to ‘Escape to Create in Whitstable’ at the Horsebridge  for a few hours.  If you live in Whitstable, are CRB checked and have experience in providing this service, and are interested in discussing how we might collaborate please contact me at catriona@createinkent.co.uk

Better times ahead for UK tourism?

VisitEngland and Visit London joint research shows that Brits are becoming slightly more optimistic about the economy, with less people, since the last round of research in February, expecting to cut out holidays due to the downturn. Times continue to be tough for many people but, since last autumn, there has been an increase in people expecting to take short breaks and day trips in the UK. Full results are available from the UK tourism trade website.  This is good news for those of us, like me, who are developing tourism products for the domestic markets.  For information about my creative tourism business plans visit my  website

Whitstable appears at no 10

…in Times list of top trendy beaches! Suggs likes Whitstable  too!

Enjoy every minute

Everyone who knows me well knows that I always try and enjoy the moment. So this new ad from Visit England, encouraging people to ‘enjoy every minute’ resonates with me. It’s also the perfect platform from which to sell my, soon to be launched, new business ‘Escape to Create’ which will encourage people to escape from their usual routines for however long they can – be it a couple of hours, a day or perhaps longer, to create something special and to take home a unique souvenir.

Postcards in the Park

A chance to celebrate and capture what you love about your park and win £1000 in the Postcards from the Park photography competition.

Creating in Sandwich

Enjoy a ‘Makey Do’ at the Sandwich Guildhall this Saturday 11th July to shop, create, relax and eat cake in the company of other relaxed crafty types. Be one of the first through the doors at 10.00 to receive one of the amazing goodie bags.

Andy Goldsworthy bringing ancient paths to life with sculpture

A great story about art being used to draw visitors to a previously abandoned region of Provence.

A monumental moment in history

Today has been described as a monumental moment in the history of rail travel in the UK. It’s certainly good news for Kent, as today saw the first high speed trains from St Pancras arriving just 30 minutes later in Ashford in Kent, cutting 47 minutes from the usual journey time from Ashford to London Charing Cross. The trains travel at 142 miles per hour and the service will be officially launched later this year.  The journey comes at a premium price but I believe it’s great news for Kent’s tourism industry as it makes the Garden of England even more accessible for Londoners and overseas visitors, wanting to escape from the city, for a day out or short break.

16-25 with a big creative idea?

Ideastap is  offering  up to £50,000 of awards for new creative ideas in the Performing Arts and Digital Media and Visual Arts.  Closing date 30 June 2009.