The Lasting Legacy of Exodus
March 22nd, 2007 > Posted in: Margate Exodus, Thanet Hollywood
Earlier this week I was contacted by an undergraduate writing her dissertation about The Margate Exodus. We talked about how the project had been interpreted by Thanet residents and whether A.A Gill’s view that it “smelt of Victorian cultural imperialism” was justified. It got me thinking.
It should be no surprise that my response to her was mostly positive, but I’m keen to know what you think. What will the legacy of Exodus be? Before you add your comment, let’s remind ourselves of the project’s aims.
Here’s how Michael Morris, Co-Director of Artangel, describes it:
“The legacy is not in bricks and mortar - the legacy is to do with relationships and people. People working together who would never normally be on the same side of the street - there will be all kinds of things coming out of that which we cannot predict.”
I can’t agree with this more, and I worry that some have been to quick to dismiss it. I can personally vouch for the fact that Exodus provided the excuse for people in our community to get together and learn new skills and create fantastic art and music - lots of us are working to continue this work and keep the wheels rolling. 2007 will be the year that the legacy kicks in, I’ll keep you posted on events as the news reaches me.
Every project has it’s critics, and Gill’s cultural imperialism argument persists, but in cases like this its all the more satisfying when they can be proved wrong.
Saturday March 24, 2007 at 11:22 pm
The Waste Man put Margate firmly in the public eye for a brief time. The very scale of the sculpture was sufficient in itself to rouse the curiosity (and perhaps even the affection) of the townspeople, and the involvement of an artist of international repute drew the attention of press and TV, giving the town a real lift for a few brief weeks. Wouldn’t it be great if a permanent work of art could be commissioned for the town from an artist of similar stature to Antony Gormley. Or even from Gormley himself. Surely grants from arts-based foundations would be forthcoming for such a project. How about an imposing sculpture of Waste Man proportions by (or even incorporating) the lighthouse, forming a gateway to the harbour?
Wednesday March 28, 2007 at 11:10 am
The legacy? An empty shop at the top of Margate High Street with Margate Exodus written on it.
Wednesday June 20, 2007 at 9:57 am
Hmmm, I emailed them politely about the ‘film’ a while ago.
What is planned for the grand opening of what was an enormous investment of public funds? I waited for a while and finally this curt email came from an art’angel’
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The screening dates are being arranged this week - I believe its going to be July. Invites will go out shortly.
Wednesday June 20, 2007 at 9:58 am
That was the 17th of May…
Have you heard anything yet?
Wednesday June 20, 2007 at 11:25 am
There will be two screenings of the film at Dreamland Cinema on the 7th July - at 11am and 1pm. As far as I am aware it is a ticket only event - 11am is fully booked, but there may still be tickets available for the 1pm screening.
There will also be a London première at the C4 headquarters soon after. I’m preparing a post with more information about the film, which will be online soon.
Saturday July 07, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I think the exodus film was what we needed i was born here and the town was starting to decay and crumble before our eyes.I think penny has put margate on the map for us,it is refreshing and a priveledge for a film like this to be filmed here,hopefully it will open up the floodgates and give thanet some of her elegance back.