High Street Media Art Centre Set To Close

After nearly four years in the heart of Sittingbourne High Street's community The Swale Media Art Centre (SMAC), at number 34, is set to close on Friday 4th April.

The founder of SMAC, local long-standing resident and former film director and ex-Swale Borough Councillor, Ken Rowles, told SFM News: "I am very angry with the closure of our gallery and community hub. We have been offering a  range of arts and media activities, workshops and classes for all ages and activities. We have supplied room hire, and gallery space, Art classes, film screenings, art and craft afternoons, a networking IT room with equipment available for training".

Ken went on to add: "our museum in the centre features celebrities who live or have lived in the borough including Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Faversham including the villages. Names such as Terry Nation, who wrote episodes of Dr Who and inventor of the Dalek, Michael Crawford star of theatre, film and television series, Bob Todd who started life in Faversham as a farmer and had difficulty becoming a comedy actor of television, film Bernard Lee well known as M in early James Bond 007. Eric Barker star of my Carry on films and a wealth of comedy film 50's and 60's. The Museum includes posters, memorabilia along with film and television cameras and editing equipment.

Ken told 'In The Bourne' listeners: "the Sittingbourne community are losing a venue that, for four years, has been a valuable asset to the town and has been a home for education for the young and not so young. Parents have said that we have given their children something schools are now lacking. We were told by our landlord that they couldn’t guarantee another five-year extension to our lease which, because we’re a charity, we would need for further funding. I'm sorry that we didn't get any support from Swale Borough Council either, who have other ideas for 34 High Street Sittingbourne or will it become just another empty building or nail spa?"

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for the latest on this breaking news story.