EKMT News &
Announcments
Announcments
On this page you can find announcements and items of interest from the EKMT, including a ‘heads-up’ on events happening in our museums.
For more detail on events visit the Special Events page, and for archived news and announcements go here.
For more detail on events visit the Special Events page, and for archived news and announcements go here.
New Website for Ramsgate Maritime Museum
The Ramsgate Maritime Museum now has it’s own website, where any further information will be posted. The new site can be found at
Free Entry - 30th September
To mark the end of the season Ramsgate Maritime Museum will be free to enter on Tuesday, September 30th, the last day of opening before the museum closes over the winter. Items in the museum gift shop will also be half price for this one day.
After the 30th of September the museum will close for the winter season, with plans to re-open at Easter (see the statement below for more details).
East Kent Maritime Trust - Statement by the Trustees
Regrettably after more than 20 years service, to both the local community and heritage services, the East Kent Maritime Trust will be winding down it’s operations due to current financial pressures.
The Trust would like to thank Thanet District Council for the financial help and support in the past and fully understand the need to cut the Annual Grant Aid that they received, given the economic climate.
Having provided a museum service during the current “2008 Season”, Ramsgate Maritime Museum and Margate Old Town Museum will close for the Winter period on the 1st October 2008. All current EKMT operational posts will be made redundant and the staff involved will receive a generous severance package.
It is hoped that a new “subscription based” membership led Heritage Association can be formed during the closed period and with the support of Thanet District Council and other like-minded groups, a new and vibrant coastal and maritime heritage visitor and resident offer will be provided.
Thanet Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Economy, Cllr. Roger Latchford, said:
“The Council would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the East Kent Maritime Trust’s Trustees, staff and volunteers for all their hard work of dedicated service to the community over many years in the advancement of Thanet’s maritime heritage. In particular for their pragmatic understanding of the Council’s 2008/09 budget constraints and priorities leading to the unavoidable withdrawal of it’s annual support grant to the Trust in respect of their management of Ramsgate Maritime Museum and Margate Museum.
Over the past several months the constructive discussions that have taken place with EKMT representatives will continue in the winter months closure period with the proposed successor organisation to the EKMT.
The Council is looking forward to working jointly with the new body to explore developing innovative, viable and sustainable heritage visitor solutions to interpret the best of the nationally recognised local maritime collections, with potential support from other local interest groups, commercial partners, and key regional and national cultural agencies.
The Council remains committed to developing a vibrant cultural agenda for Thanet with it’s partners, particularly so in regard to our truly unique coastal and maritime history and heritage.”
Wednesday, 17th September 2008.
Archived news and announcements can be found here.