Updated Monday 5th October 2020

NEWS (see also our Facebook Page) + look inside Creek Creative: take the VIRTUAL TOUR

If you are interested in entering our Lockdown Art Exhibition in October CLICK HERE

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS ARE RESTARTING

Watch this space (or Facebook Page) for more updates of new and/or previously regular classes restarting after lockdown…

LIFE AFTER CLOSURE (SATURDAY 21ST MARCH – TUESDAY 4TH AUGUST) – SUPPORT DONATIONS STILL NEEDED

Please consider donating to help our not-for-profit facility survive the Covid-19 downturn using the QR Code or PayPal Button below.

Thankfully we received some vital financial support on 24th April, via Swale Borough Council, to help sustain our NFP Arts Facility for a few months, but we still face very challenging times ahead and need your support more than ever. Any donations will be gratefully received and will help us cover the anticipated huge shortfall in income from severely reduced footfall and sales for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.

PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19) / Re-Opening / Track & Trace UPDATE

Our exhibitions and other activities resumed from Tuesday 4th August, along with re-opening the Gallery Kitchen Cafe, Artisan Shop, and some workshops/classes. Maintaining social distancing with enhanced hygiene measures will minimise the risks, and entry numbers will be limited for some time to come. For everyone’s safety we need cooperation on site, within the building artist/residents are advised to not bring more than one person to their studio/workshop at any time, keep at least 1m apart, wash hands / use sanitisers frequently, and stay alert. After the 4th August the limit on students attending courses & workshops will be four until further notice.

ONLINE GALLERY: CREEK POSTER RETROSPECTIVE + PREVIOUS EXHIBITION IN ONE MINUTE

LEFT: ‘Creek Creative Archive Retrospective’ is a poster / graphic snapshot of 11 Years at No.1 Abbey Street (1st July 2009 – 30th June 2020), which includes past Exhibitions, Craft Fairs, Events, Presentations, Workshops & Courses, Promotion & Signage (click in corner for ‘Full Screen’ & ‘Esc’ to return). This archive video is also available on YouTube or as 8x posts of multiple photos on Instagram.

RIGHT: #SoloShow from local artist Laine Hadlow #PortraitArt #LandscapeArt #AnimalPortraits (Tue 8th – Sun 20th Sep)

BOOKING INFORMATION

Most of our scheduled exhibitions (past, present & future) can be found in our online calendar. If you booked an exhibition or short course / day workshop before lockdown, please email info@creek-creative.org to enquire about changes, or contact the tutor directly (via phone or email) to check if they are offering online alternatives, or are re-scheduling on site socially distanced classes planned to start later in the year.

LOWER GALLERY

As a result of adaptations to the pandemic the Lower Gallery will be even more of a multi-use space hosting all manner of courses and workshops mingled with presentations and exhibitions.

Wheelchair users please note that we do have #WheelchairAccess on both levels, but for the Lower Gallery access is from the back (on Belvedere Road): Cafe or Shop staff will need to be alerted (via the main Abbey Street entrance) to go down and open the double Fire Doors for the rear ramp, then guide people through the corridor.

THE LOWER GALLERY IS AVAILABLE TO HIRE FOR CLASSES OR EXHIBITIONS…

Call 01795 535515 or email info@creek-creative.org for further information. Click here for Online Calendar: Events / Bookings

If you are interested in exhibiting in the Lower Gallery currently the cost is £160 per week (+ 20% sales commission). Please note there are two rooms: the main room as shown in the photos, and the second, which currently still suffers water intrusion, but is uniquely atmospheric and includes an amazing 30m tunnel (ideal for unusual installations). The Lower Gallery is favoured by those exhibitors wishing for a dedicated space (with higher ceiling in the main room), more flexible layout, and peaceful atmosphere in contrast with the busy Upper Gallery.

LOWER GALLERY PREVIOUS EXAMPLE

The panoramic photos below show the Kent County photographic Association ‘Annual Print & PDI Exhibition’ 2019, which occupied both the Upper & Lower Galleries for three weeks from Tuesday 30th April to Sunday 19th May.

This KCPA exhibition was their fifth consecutive ‘Annual Print & PDI Exhibition’ here at Creek and included an excellent range of high quality photography submitted by Camera Club members, shortlisted from the many clubs based in the South East.

UPPER GALLERY PREVIOUS EXAMPLE

AWARDS

Creek Creative were #KentCreativeAwards finalists in ‘Cultural Venue’ + ‘Arts Organisation’ categories in 2017, and in November 2018 Lorraine and her Gallery Kitchen Cafe team earned a Gold Award for the second year running at the Freefrom Eating Out Awards 2018 in the ‘Cafés & Teashops’ category (see also FreeFrom Eating Out Awards 2017). Prior to that our GKC was shortlisted again for ‘Customer Service of the Year’ in 2017, having been a top three Finalist in both ‘Cafe of the Year’ and ‘Customer Service of the Year’ categories at the ‘Kent Life and Kent on Sunday Food & Drink Awards 2016‘. Back in 2015 our Gallery Kitchen Cafe had received a ‘Kent Life and Kent on Sunday Food & Drink Awards 2015‘ Highly Commended for ‘Cafe of the Year’ .

FEEDBACK

Can you help us improve the facilities?

Please consider donating to Creek Creative CIC using our PayPal DONATE BUTTON on the ‘About’ page. We guarantee that any funds received will be spent carefully on improvements to our artists’ facilities and to subsidise various exhibitions or promotional activities to support them. We are happy to hear specific suggestions if you have interesting ideas on how your money might be best deployed as Creek Creative continues to evolve.

New Courses:

If you are interested in an art/design discipline but can’t find a course let us know – especially if you are a small group of friends thinking of learning together in an informal class – as we may be able to set up a new class just for you. Call Anne on 01795 535515 or email info@creek-creative.org