New Arts Centre Opens In Dover

Dover has a new arts centre.

It has opened on the first floor of the Charlton Shopping Centre in High Street where nine purpose-built studios and an exhibition space have been established.

It is hoped that artists and craftspeople will make use of the centre, by renting studios and displaying their work.

Shoppers will be able to see and buy artwork, meet the artists and take part in community art projects at what is being hailed as a new "creative hub for Dover".

The inaugural exhibition opened to the public this week and is called The Walls in Three Places.

Charlton Art Centre has been created by property group Targetfollow, which owns the shopping centre and is committed to encouraging and supporting art in local communities.

The centre's gallery will be available to Dover artists and arts groups free of charge with a 30 per cent commission levied on sales from commercial exhibitions. Studios are now available to lease.

Dover-based community interest company White Nave will be running the new centre and managing the gallery's programme of events in partnership with Targetfollow.

Anyone interested in hiring studio space at should call creative director Rachael Daniels on 07732 426 194 or e-mail info@whitenave.com.

The shopping centre website is www.charltoncentre.co.uk.