About

RISE UP RESIDENCY is a week-long mural project and educational programme taking place in September 2022 in Margate, Kent. The initiative is spearheaded by RISE UP. CLEAN UP. and Margate-based, internationally acclaimed artist Louis Masai.

The residency welcomes seventeen local and international artists to stay in Margate and create public art as a means of raising awareness of ocean conservation and the issues caused by plastic in and near our oceans. From documenting ocean biodiversity to plastic hazards and ocean species, the murals will remain in the town and intend to act as an educational backdrop. Their aim is to inspire, unite and empower the community of Margate and its visitors to partake in reducing plastics and respecting the ocean.

The residency intends to support and directly engage with the community of Margate through a series of talks and workshops from local businesses and direct employment of locals to work on the programme.

RISE UP. CLEAN UP. is a Community Interest Company (CIC) set up in the summer of 2020 as a response to the litter crisis affecting Margate’s coastline, ocean and native wildlife. They are committed to making Margate the next plastic-free beach side town and conduct regular beach cleans. Since 2020, 40 beach cleans have seen a staggering 909 bags of rubbish collected.

It also harnessed the power of the local creative community to create an anti-littering art installation in Margate Train Station. It displays all the plastic collected off the Main Sands beach in just one day. On an average weekend in the summer, this installation will be viewed by over 15,000 people.