£43,592 funding for ambitious arts project in Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens

Dover District Council has been awarded Arts Council England funding to run an ambitious arts project in Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens. The bid was submitted as part of the £3.1m Heritage Lottery funded Kearsney Parks project.

A key aim of the Kearnsey Parks project is to bring new audiences to the parks and to use the landscapes to engage people with arts and culture.

The bid was submitted by the Kearsney Parks project. The money that has been received is separate to the funding that we have received from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Parks for People programme.

The £43,592 grant will fund a series of artist residencies and a park bench poetry and drawing project.  A number of the residencies will be for newly-graduated, early career artists from the local area. The project will be delivered in partnership with Dover Arts Development (DAD).

"This exciting project will explore the landscape designs, ecology, social and industrial heritage of the parks. It will leave a legacy of art, sculpture, poetry and artists' films that can be enjoyed for many years to come," said Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Cabinet Member for Property Management.

Clare Smith, Co-director of Dover Arts Development, said: "DAD is delighted to be working with DDC on this project which will animate the Kearsney Parks as cultural spaces."

Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England, said: "We're delighted to support Dover District Council’s work to engage more people with arts and culture through the Kearsney Parks project. It is particularly exciting to see local, early-career artists given the opportunity to develop their talents through residencies and I hope their work will create a lasting legacy that future generations can enjoy."

Members of the public will have plenty of opportunities to get involved with the arts project.  To keep up to date visit www.kearsneyparks.co.uk or sign up for Kearsney Parks updates with the Keep Me Posted service on the DDC website.