The Streets Ahead Collective is a creative centre in Canterbury that has recently opened in the old Curry’s building off the high street
It will help to boost the community’s artistry and bring people together.
It is organised and run by Ben Kidger (Head of Visual Arts at EKC Canterbury College) and Liz Wellstead who also runs the shop in Canterbury: Rock, Paper, Scissors.
She leads The Streets Ahead Collective which is run and managed with the help of many of the Higher Education Art students and creative students that go to EKC Canterbury College.
Many of these students also volunteer to help sell the artwork in the shop that is made by local artists, Catching Lives clients and a lot of the students have also developed pieces that are in the shop.
As well as providing the students with a chance to create their own art for sale, it also helps them to gain experience and broaden their general and artistic skills.
Liz started the project of Streets Ahead because she realised that Canterbury was in need of more artistic areas and in general, in need of more creativity.
She also realised that although Canterbury has three universities within its vicinity that are offering creative subjects, Canterbury has no place for students to go to after to explore or develop their ideas.
The idea of Streets Ahead was to combine something like the Marlowe and like the Beanie but make it more accessible rather than elitist as art should be spread to everyone.
Liz said
the whole idea about streets ahead is bringing all different communities together into one space and it doesn’t just have to be visual arts.”
Liz also started to create a project with the art coordinator of Catching Lives about trying to integrate people that have been housed in mainstream housing so they can feel included and forge their own path.
The downside of The Streets Ahead Collective project is only that it will end too soon as they’ve only got it until the end of February.
The hope for Streets Ahead is more funding so they can make it more sustainable and even get a permanent place within the city centre.
The Streets Ahead Collective is the perfect chance for Canterbury to grow as a city and develop its creative side that is just waiting to be seen.
This is because Streets Ahead doesn’t just focus on creativity, it also focuses on inclusivity which can help build the community.
Liz also said
one space working together so it’s fully inclusive in the community.”
This idea of working together is what makes Streets Ahead such a powerful project and it’s the reason why Streets Ahead should continue.
If you do find yourself in Canterbury’s city centre between now and February, head down to Streets Ahead, just off the high street and find out for yourself just what an incredible experience it is.
As well as this, it is also perfect for Christmas shopping this year.
Also feel free to check out their Instagram:
