The Concept
Turner Contemporary began in the 1990s with the aspiration of several active members of the community that Margate should celebrate its links with Britain's best known painter, JMW Turner (1775-1851). Subsequent studies and consultations demonstrated that a new art gallery would not only be a significant addition to the cultural provision in Kent, but that it could act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Thanet and, in particular, Margate. Led by Kent County Council, the project has the support of many key stakeholders, including Thanet District Council, Arts Council England, South East England Development Agency and the European Union.
JMW Turner, Self Portrait, 1799