About Turner Contemporary
Britain's best known painter, JMW Turner (1775-1851), was a regular visitor to Margate throughout his life. He was drawn to Margate by the unique quality of the light, leading him to remark that "...the skies over Thanet are the loveliest in all Europe".
Turner Contemporary, and the development of a new gallery for the organisation, is key to Kent County Council's vision for the regeneration of Margate. The new gallery will be a catalyst for further developments in the town, which are currently being explored. The gallery will be built on the same location as the lodging house in which Turner stayed, overlooking Margate's picturesque bay.
When completed, the gallery will be the largest dedicated visual arts venue in Kent, and one of the largest in the south east of England outside of London. In preparation for the new gallery, Turner Contemporary presents a large and varied programme of activities to engage with, inform and inspire as wide an audience as possible.
Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane, Steam Powered Internet Machine, 2006
Commissioned by Turner Contemporary