Dover business owner says Bench Street Arts Campus will be district’s ‘new exciting hub for creative arts’

Later this year, EKC Dover College – which is part of East Kent Colleges Group (EKC Group) – will be launching its new Bench Street Arts Campus.  

Set to open inside the new Bench building in the heart of the Dover community, the state-of-the-art site promises to unlock new and exciting opportunities for the students studying there.  

The project has been funded by the UK Government and driven by Dover District Council. The Bench will include EKC Dover College’s Arts Campus, as well as a business centre, creative centre, cafe and more.  

The build also unlocks new opportunities for local businesses in Dover, including Cactus Graphics. Commercial Director Richard Archer, says the EKC Dover College Campus will be the ‘new, exciting hub for creative arts’ in the district.  

“The development of The Bench is key because of disadvantage that we have here in Dover and East Kent. As a local employer, I know how hard it is to find people with the skills we need in our industry,” says Richard. 

“We’re surrounded by London, and outside of London, so getting our Kent students developed is essential for the future of the creative arts.  

“The development of The Bench is also managing to get younger students, young adults, and adults to get involved with the creative arts. Be that fine art, marketing, events, graphic design, there’s these opportunities that were never there before.” 

The new Bench Street Arts Campus will act as a trailblazer for arts education in the local area. With the new gallery space, creative campus, and creative centre, Dover is creating a space for people to come together and collaborate and learn from all sides of the arts. 

Richard added: “I think the wider community can see it, and can see that Dover is investing into its future.  

“It gives a central point for people to be creative, to meet, for businesses to meet and to work together, and communicate to make sure that the creative flow through Dover is the starting point.

“Dover will be the new, exciting hub for creative arts.”  

Learn more about the new Bench Street Arts Campus here.