Support The Margate School’s FREE Art & Design programme for 13-16 year olds!
The National Saturday Club (NSC) at The Margate School (TMS) is a free 15-week art and design programme for young people aged 13–16. It offers students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to explore alternative approaches to art and design education through a dynamic curriculum of hands-on workshops and collaborative projects. With a rotating roster of local artists, we introduce students to a range of engaging mediums and artists they might not otherwise encounter—nurturing their interests and preparing them for a future in the arts.
The club provides vital opportunities to develop creative skills, discover new passions, build confidence, and explore further education and career paths.
'Public Art / Monuments' Sculpture Workshop
The majority of our students are from widening participation groups, which is why it’s essential the programme remains free and accessible to all.
Key outreach statistics from our 2025 cohort:
- 50% students with mental or physical disabilities
- 60% neurodivergent students
- 40% receiving free school meals
- 45% with special educational needs
- 15% with experience in local care authorities
- 10% young carers
'Utopia' Ceramics & Glazing Workshop
About The National Saturday Club
As part of the National Saturday Club network, which has been running since 2009, Club members will be able to take part in NSC national events. These include a masterclass with leading industry professionals. Ours will be held on 17th May, taught by Jim Le Fevre, who is a BAFTA and BAA (British Animation Awards) award winning animation director with over 20 years’ experience making commercials, title sequences and TV animation. Plus the nationwide summer exhibition and graduation at Somerset House, London on 13 - 15 July 2025. All for free.
As part of our curriculum, we're hosting our own work in progress exhibition at The Margate School Gallery on 26th April, in collaboration with local curator Polly Brannan (Director of Open School East). Later in the year, students will also exhibit their work at the Margate Festival of Design.
These unique opportunities to showcase their work help build confidence and strengthen further education applications and CV’s.
Why Your Support Matters
We’re raising essential funds to complete the program, especially for the students’ final project (A Jeff Wall inspired photography project) and travel to their exhibition and graduation at Somerset House. As well as to ensure the programme can run again next year. Demand has been incredibly high and we were oversubscribed this year—so we’re also eager to expand and reach even more young people in the future. As funding for creative projects becomes increasingly competitive, we’re fundraising in any way we can. That’s why we’re reaching out to our community for support.
2025 Program
We secured £10,000 from the Helen Hamlyn Trust at the start of the year, but the full programme costs £15,000 to run. So we urgently need another £5,000.
2026 Program
Then looking to next year, we need £15,000 to run the programme all over again. We’re applying for additional grants and funding, but your donations will make a huge difference.
All donations go directly to The Margate School Saturday Club and, if you’re a taxpayer, please fill in a Gift Aid form as it adds 25% to your donation at no extra cost!
'Utopia' Ceramics & Glazing Workshop
“Attending the Saturday Club has changed my outlook on the future 100%.” — Club Member
Sound Art Workshop
“Being able to express myself freely in a Club where the teaching is more collaborative has helped me develop my skills.” — Club Member
Flag Making/Textiles Workshop
Why Art Education Matters
‘‘In the 10 years after 2009, spending per pupil in England fell by nearly 10% in real terms. As support staff have been cut, overstretched teachers have less capacity to run choirs or put on school plays…Because arts subjects require space and resources, they are often most vulnerable to budget cuts.’’ - The Guardian view on arts education: a creativity crisis | Editorial
As funding cuts continue, creative courses are often the first to be reduced, leaving young people—especially those from underprivileged backgrounds—with fewer opportunities to pursue a career in the arts. Art is being squeezed out of the national curriculum, and many students are unaware of the exciting and life changing creative pathways available to them, as well as the positive impact art can have on their wellbeing.
Our Saturday Club bridges this gap, offering local young people the art education they deserve. As the only National Saturday Club for art and design in Kent, your support is vital to ensuring creativity has a future in our community.
Sound Art Workshop
Why It’s a Great Idea
- A unique opportunity in Kent: Offering free, extracurricular creative education for young people from diverse backgrounds.
- Skill development: The members will gain specialist practical and theoretical training in art and design, learning about a range of artists, techniques and exploring new ideas and concepts
- Local Impact: Building community ties, nurturing creativity, local pride and promoting social inclusion.
- Build confidence and find their voice: Develop their teamwork and communication skills in a creative and nurturing environment. We will help them develop a platform for expressing themselves both personally and collectively.
- Future pathways: Gain better understanding of the wide range of creative careers and pathways, they could take, e.g. through further education, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to pursue them.
- Inspiration and exposure: Visits to Somerset House and local galleries/studios, as well as opportunities to learn from a range of creative professionals.
'Expressions of Self' Collage Workshop
Your donation will help bring this transformative opportunity to young people in Kent.
Please see the links below for more information on what we achieved last year.
NSC at The Margate School 2024