Art will spark a business and cultural renaissance in the home of the kiss-me-quick hat
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"Commerce
always follows art."
That was the great business quote from Tracey Emin when she
unveiled her neon art in Margate.
She was about 30 minutes late but the army of fans were happy to
wait for the arrival of the town’s famous daughter.
They cheered as the woman described as one of the best artists
in the world got out of her car and was soon crying with
emotion.
Margate just cries out for sunny weather but for once we could
have done without the bright setting sun blazing on the pink neon
inscription "I Never Stopped Loving You."
An eight o’clock start might have brightened Tracey’s neon but
it might have kept the crowds down.
And well done to her for staying over an hour after the
unveiling ceremony, signing autographs and posing for photos. And
it would not have been Tracey if she had not uttered the F
word!
big
question for Margate is whether Tracey’s comment about commerce
will prove true. It did for the Spanish city of Bilbao which was
transformed economically by the Guggenheim.
Culture is widely seen as a great way to regenerate an area.
Margate has languished in the rundown lane for many years, although
there are signs of a pick-up in its fortunes. When Turner
Contemporary opens next year, it will attract comment from around
the world.
Suddenly, Margate will become the place to go, even though
locals will probably stay cynical about the value of art, and
question whether the £17 million should be invested in hospitals
and schools instead. The same thing happened in Bilbao but the
residents are now delighted at the way the Guggenheim transformed
their lives.
Although behind the attractive harbour there remains much to be
done, there is a good chance that perceptions will change, that
Margate will become fashionable again.
Emin and Turner may well combine to make East Kent cool - and
that means good for business.
Thursday, May 06 2010
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