CRATE is an artist-led organisation based in East Kent supporting contemporary visual artists’ research and practice. CRATE promotes critical debate and the exchange of ideas without prescribed outcomes. Based in an old print works near the sea front in Margate, CRATE’s building has been bought and refurbished with major support from Arts Council England South East, East Kent Partnership and Thanet District Council. The building opened in July 2006. The building combines working and project space and is designed to give artists access to dedicated, affordable space for experimentation, production, documentation and research. There are three floors of studios, and two project spaces on the ground floor. The project spaces are available for short-term use by practitioners, alongside a programme initiated by CRATE.