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ABOUT US

This video highlights the early stages of Beach Creative in 2012. Voiced by Gill Wilson

 

Beach Creative is a vibrant centre for creativity and wellbeing in Herne Bay with a truly inclusive community focus established in 2012

 

We are a vibrant creative hub, right in the heart of Herne Bay where you can try new
things, meet new people, share your ideas and talents, and have fun.
We support people on their creative journey, give artists and makers space to create
and show their work and bring people together through creative activities.
Our exhibitions, events and learning opportunities make a real difference to people’s
lives in Herne Bay


Beach Creative, over its ten-year history, has adapted and changed to the
needs and interests of local people. Energised by strong community
involvement, Beach Creative has inspired local people of all ages, all
backgrounds and all abilities to share their talents, exchange ideas and try new
things through courses, events and exhibitions. Everyone is warmly welcomed.
Beach Creative CIC also provides spaces and opportunities for local artists and
makers to develop and deliver their creative services

 

We support local people on their cultural explorations and our busy meeting rooms and workshop are used by peer support groups, writers, musicians and tutors with art and craft expertise delivering exciting courses and educational opportunities.
Beach Creative’s exhibitions and event programmes have brought many
people together delivered many memorable experiences and played a huge
role in strengthening the profile and identity of Herne Bay. 
As a CIC, all of our profits are put back into projects at Beach Creative and in the wider community & maintaining the facilities. 


Find out what is happening and what might be interesting to you

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WHAT YOU'RE SAYING

DARKROOM PARTICIPANT

The children really enjoyed the cyanotype printing workshop, it was great to see them so immersed. I had to drag them away for home time!

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BAY FEST 2021

SUPPORTER

I believe that Beach Creative has made and continues to make an invaluable contribution to the life of Herne Bay and one that deserves to be fully placed on a solid and permanent footing

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MP ROGER GALE

We love your sweet garden in the sunshine! And how cosy and welcoming indoors is in the colder months!

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2021 VISITOR

Beach Creative is a vibrant, authentic community space always buzzing with activities for all ages and with a cafe that draws in a diverse mix of local people. It is also a vital, affordable base for a range of small arts organisations that serve the community

TOAST CAFE
VISITOR

HISTORY

Beach House was built in 1899 to provide offices and a home to the local gas manager and his family. The Herne Bay Gas Company was formed by act of Parliament on 1 November 1837, and by the end of the century it had rapidly expanded its activities to service Herne Bay’s building and tourism boom.

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If you look carefully at Beach House you still see that the building always had a dual purpose.  The right hand door led into the house where the family lived and the left door led into the gas showrooms and offices.  The hatch we are using in our café is original to the building and was used to pay the gas workers wages and take orders for gas fires and appliances.  In the 1930s a second showroom opened at 91-95 High Street and eventually replaced the one at Beach House.

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The aerial photograph dates from about the 1920s and shows the two gas storage cylinders and Beach House with a long walled garden running all the way down Beach Street to the corner of the present car park. Some of the original flint wall remains.

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You can download the full history of Beach House written by Sue Austen by clicking the button below

SEE WHAT WE DO

We would love to show you what we do!

View our showcase reel here

FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS

Beach Creative CIC would like to thank all of the organisation's we work in partnership with :

 

Arts Award

Barclays 

Herne Bay Junior School 

Herne Bay High School  

University for the Creative Arts 

Coastal Schools Alliance  

Porchlight 

Take Off (mental health peer support services) 

Red Zebra (social prescribing) 

Forward Trust (counselling group for Recovering Alcoholics and Drug dependants) 

Mind 

Rising Sun (supporting abused women and children)   

Community Liaison Group support

Herne Bay Festival 

Herne Bay Pier  

The Seaside Museum  

Social Enterprise Kent 

Buy in the Bay  

Herne Bay Rotary Club 

Herne Bay Town Partners  

Herne Bay Historical Records Society 

Turner Contemporary 

Herne Bay and Wimereux Twinning Association 

Royal National Institute for the Blind 

The Hygiene Bank (free menstrual/hygiene products for young people within schools) 

Stand-up-4-Sitting Down (providing seating for passers-by).  

Animate Arts Company - Community Arts 

Thank you to our funders & supporters

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