The UK Creative Festival Announces Tracey Emin as Keynote Speaker

The UK Creative Festival and Careers Fair (UKCF) today announces that acclaimed artist, Tracey Emin CBE RA will be supporting the festival taking place in Margate on the 12th-13th July 2023 alongside a host of other prominent creative industry figures. 

The UK Creative Festival has been held in Margate since 2021, a town chosen for its thriving creative community. As the hometown of Tracey Emin, one of the most celebrated contemporary British artists and an advocate for creativity in the area, it is fitting that she should feature in a keynote discussion alongside friend and fellow creative and actor Russell Tovey of Talk Art. In a fireside-style chat, entitled ‘Creating Sparks’, the conversation will form part of the overall festival programme theme, ‘Making Waves’. 

Other speakers at the festival include;

Vicki Maguire, CCO, Havas London

Russell Tovey, actor, curator and podcaster at Talk Art

Trevor Robinson OBE, founder of Quiet Storm 

Mr Cee, comedian, coach, actor, writer 

Dr Chris Arnold, strategist & ethical marketing specialist (Dyslexic/ADHD) 

Ete Davies, EMEA COO, Dentsu Creative 

Franki Goodwin, chief creative officer, Saatchi & Saatchi 

Jessica Tamsedge, UK CEO, Dentsu Creative 

Nils Leonard, founder, Uncommon 

David Pemsel, chair of British Fashion Council 

Yasaman Mohsani, actress (RISE, Gangs of London) 

Henry Holland, founder, Henry Holland Studios

Dentsu Creative returns as a headline sponsor of the festival this year, and new headline sponsor Saatchi & Saatchi will bring a screening of the New Creators’ Showcase to Margate for its first showing after it premieres in Cannes in June, and will also sponsor the Creative Circle New Creator Awards. 

Like previous years, the festival will play host to a cohort of students who will be attending to seek advice, inspiration, and guidance for accessing the creative industries and its many career pathways. A series of workshops and a careers fair have been organised specifically for young people, also providing professional attendees with a chance to network with and find their next superstar talent. The 78th Creative Circle Awards will also be hosted on the final evening of the festival at Dreamland and dual tickets for both events can be purchased here.

Jeremy Green, managing director of the Creative Circle said, “The UK Creative Festival has grown year on year since it first launched in 2021. Our goal has always been to create something that brings the British creative community together to unite the support of the creative industries and create greater accessibility to them, right from school age. We’re honoured to have such a prolific line up of Great British artists, actors, photographers, comedians, business owners, creatives and more supporting us on this journey in 2023. As ever, we will be investing our ticket funds into creating networking spaces, opportunities and creative discourse for all ages. This year is all about making waves and it is only by uniting as a force that we can change the tides on the devastating effects of public funding cuts to the arts.” 

Gabriela Scardaccione, president, The Creative Circle Awards commented: “I am so excited to be part of this year’s UKCF and Creative Circle Awards. It is that time of the year where we get together to celebrate the most brilliant of UK creative talent, but to also make the impossible, possible: give belief to the young creatives from under represented social groups that they too can be part of the UK creative community, give them a reason to believe that they have a central role play in the future of this business. I can’t wait to see the long queues of young creatives with their portfolios coming from all over the UK to be part of the creative Careers Fair. Get ready for amazing speakers, walks on the beach, lots of fun, inspiration and connections over the two days at the lovely seaside town of Margate”

Upcoming key dates for this year’s awards can be found below:

Tickets to the UK Creative Festival and The Creative Circle Awards can be purchased via this link.