Celebrating Community and Creativity at Quench Gallery

We recently visited Quench Gallery in Margate to introduce Working Class Creatives (WCC) and share a lively screenprinting session with local working-class artists. This event was more than just an art workshop; it was a celebration of community, creativity, and the power of self-organisation. WCC has grown from a simple need for connection into a vibrant space where working-class creatives exchange skills, ideas, and support. Here’s a closer look at how this collaboration unfolded and why it matters.

Building Community Through DIY-ISM

DIY-ISM is central to WCC’s mission. It stands for building community, creating opportunities, and making things happen together. The Quench Gallery event embodied this spirit by bringing people together to learn and create without barriers. The gallery’s welcoming space allowed artists from different backgrounds to connect and share their experiences.

This approach encourages people to take control of their creative journeys. Instead of waiting for permission or external validation, WCC promotes the idea that anyone can start something meaningful. The screenprinting workshop was a practical example of this philosophy teaching participants how to produce their own art and organise events independently.

Growing a Grassroots Movement

We have been running WCC as volunteers for the past few years - answering emails from our bedrooms on opposite sides of the country. We’ve now grown to over 1500 members and have worked with some incredible institutions, but at its core it’s always been about grassroots care, community and working class creativity!

The collaboration with Quench Gallery and local artists highlights how grassroots care and creativity can flourish when given the right environment. The event was not just about making art but about sharing stories and building networks that support working-class voices in the arts.

Close-up of screenprinting process during WCC event at Quench Gallery

The Working Class Creatives Manifesto

At the heart of WCC is the Working Class Creatives self-organizing manifesto. This manifesto is a call to action for anyone who feels excluded from traditional art spaces. It reminds people that they don’t need permission to start projects or build communities. The manifesto encourages:

• Sharing skills openly

• Supporting one another

• Creating accessible opportunities

• Challenging barriers to the arts

  
  

The manifesto is inclusive and practical. It’s a guide for turning ideas into reality through collective effort. The Quench Gallery event demonstrated this by showing how local artists and WCC members can collaborate to produce meaningful work and events.

Keep Creating and Connecting

Big thanks to Gemma at Quench for organising such a lovely event!

If you want to get involved, consider starting your own project or joining local creative groups. Remember, you don’t need permission to begin. Use the WCC manifesto as inspiration to share your skills, support others, and create opportunities in your community.

Keep creating, keep connecting, and keep making things happen.