Talks & Lectures in Kent

Local history, expert speakers, and Q&As that go on longer than the talk itself. Surprisingly gripping, every time.

Festivals & EventsHistory & HeritageTalks & Lectures

Around £14

River Maidstone festival talk

Author-photographer David R Abram presents an illustrated talk exploring the connection between prehistoric sites and ancient waterways, coinciding with the Medway River Pilgrimage 2026.

Wed 22 Jul20:00Maidstone Museum

via Maidstone MuseumLocal gem

Talks & Lectures

Around £10.00

Markus Vater in Conversation

Sunday 26 July 2pm Folkestone gallery kollectiv is delighted to present Juha , a season of exhibitions of work by artists from Central Europe, each supported by a local performance artist and curated by Sammi Gale. The season continues with Having A Serious Conversation with a Mountain, an immersive exhibition by German-born Folkestone-based artist, Markus Vater. Join us for conversation with Markus Vater and curator Sammi Gale taking you behind the scenes of Markus’ new exhibition. Markus Vater: Markus Vater lives and works in Folkstone, London, Essen and Düsseldorf. His artistic practice is diverse and includes: drawing, painting, writing, animation, photography, performance and sculpture. He has taken part in numerous national and international exhibitions: Among others at the Kunstmuseum Bonn, Museum Gertsch in Switzerland, at the Kunsthalle Mannheim, the Royal Academy in London and more recent at Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf and the Sprengel Museum in Hannover. Between 1995 and 2003 he was part of the art collective hobbypop Museum. He had shows with Timothy Taylor, Vilma Gold, ibid-projects, Anthony d'Offay and Centre of Attention in London. He is represented by Rupert Pfab Galerie in Düsseldorf. Recent publications are “Objects of Significance”,published by DCV Verlag Berlin. He has been teaching at the Royal College of Art in London and was Guestprofessor at the HfBK Hamburg and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Karlsruhe.

Sun 26 JulKollectiv

via KollectivLocal gem

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Likely freeTalks & Lectures

The Art of Graphic Novels: An illustrated talk with the Rickard Sisters

Scarlett and Sophie Rickard make graphic novels. They’ve been writing and drawing ever since they were children, and now they do it together. Best known for their graphic adaptations of hard-hitting Edwardian political books, from their Eisner-nominated The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists to their most recent book, This Slavery, which was shortlisted this year for the British Book Awards.

Thu 6 Aug18:30The Horsebridge Arts Centre

via The Horsebridge Arts Centre

Likely freeTalks & Lectures

In conversation with... Rebecca Douglas: Photographer, Filmmaker, and President of the Board of Trustees at Whale Wise

Stories of the sea: encounters, conservation and connection Join photographer, filmmaker and ocean advocate Rebecca Douglas for a journey through some of the extraordinary stories that have unfolded through her lens around the shores of Kent, UK and Iceland. From rescuing an entangled humpback whale, humans and humpbacks singing together and encountering rarely seen Northern Bottlenose Whales, to snorkelling alongside seals, puffins and diving gannets, Rebecca shares the moments of wonder, curiosity and connection that have shaped her relationship with the sea. The talk will include the story behind her arresting Hanging Gannet photograph, placing second in the Conservation (Impact) category of Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024, alongside reflections on how powerful imagery can reveal both the beauty of our ocean and the challenges it faces. Blending personal encounters, conservation stories and award-winning photography, this is a celebration of the wildlife, wild places and unexpected moments that remind us why the ocean matters, and why she believes we are all ocean storytellers. Our talks are free to attend (you do not need a Dockyard admission ticket) but spaces are limited. Tickets must be booked in advance. About Rebecca Rebecca Douglas is a photographer, filmmaker and Official FUJIFILM X-Photographer whose work explores the connection between people, place and planet through stories from the wild edges of earth, sea and sky.

Thu 6 Aug18:30The Ropery

via The Ropery

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

Around £10

Kits Coty Heritage Society: Stories in Stone - Talk & Performance

Celebrate 50 years of the Kits Coty Heritage Society with tales of ancient stones, local history, and traditional morris dancing.

Fri 11 SeptMaidstone Museum

via Maidstone MuseumLocal gem

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

Around £10

Kits Coty Morris Society: Stories in Stone - Talk & Performance

Celebrate 50 years of the Kits Coty Heritage Society with tales of ancient stones, local history, and traditional morris dancing.

Fri 11 SeptMaidstone Museum

via Maidstone MuseumLocal gem

Talks & Lectures

Folkestone is a Library Meet the Author: A Home Education Event. Daryna Kucheruk

Daryna Kucheruk is an author, journalist, and former television news reporter from Ukraine. Since relocating to the United Kingdom, she has worked as a freelance journalist for various media organisations, including the BBC World Service. The author of several novels, Daryna discovered a passion for children's literature after becoming a mother. Her children's book, Silkie the Seal, is a touching and beautiful, heart-warming story about friendship and overcoming feeling of loneliness. Daryna looks forward to sharing the story with young readers and their families Suitable for ages 2 - 7 years old Free but please book The Clearing, Quarterhouse ayearofreadingtheworld.com Part of Folkestone is a Library

Fri 18 Sept10:00Tontine Street Studios

via Tontine Street StudiosLocal gem

Talks & Lectures

Folkestone is a Library Meet the Author: A Home Education Event. Ann Morgan

Meet Ann, and her how she read a Book from Every Country. Ann Morgan is an author and speaker based in Folkestone. Her first book, Reading the World, came out of a 2012 project to read a book from every country in a year (ayearofreadingtheworld.com). How I Read a Book from Every Country' is a 45-minute, interactive presentation that tells the story of my journey through a book from every nation and the amazing people who helped me achieve my goal. Exploring issues such as how many countries there are, what it means to translate a book and how storytelling can bring us together, this event will enlarge students' worlds and imaginations, and get them fizzing with questions. Suitable for ages 6 upwards. Following media coverage in more than 40 nations and a TED talk, the project became a lifelong endeavour. This sees Ann continuing to blog about international literature, and corresponding and collaborating with writers, readers and literary organisations around the world to champion the sharing of stories. Ann is also the author of two novels, international bestseller Beside Myself and Crossing Over. Her latest non-fiction book, Relearning to Read: Adventures in Not-Knowing (Renard Press, 2025), celebrates how embracing the things we don't understand can help us read ourselves and our world better. Suitable for ages 6 upwards.

Fri 18 Sept13:00Tontine Street Studios

via Tontine Street StudiosLocal gem

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

History Sessions: The Whitstable Murder Club

No Content.

Thu 24 Sept19:00The Horsebridge Arts Centre

via The Horsebridge Arts Centre

Arts & CultureHistory & HeritageTalks & Lectures

Museum Culture Club: Ancient Lives Gallery Talk

A talk by Collections Manager Samantha Harris about the Egyptian Mummies scans as part of the Ancient Lives Gallery research.

Wed 30 Sept15:00Maidstone Museum

via Maidstone MuseumLocal gem

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

Museum Culture Club: Egyptian Mummies Talk

A talk by Collections Manager Samantha Harris regarding research into Egyptian Mummies scans from the Ancient Lives Gallery.

Wed 30 Sept15:00Maidstone Museum

via Maidstone MuseumLocal gem

Likely freeHistory & HeritageTalks & Lectures

In conversation with... Nicola Moorby, Curator of Historic British Art, Tate

J.M.W. Turner's lifelong engagement with the sea resulted in some of his most dramatic and iconic paintings. This talk provides an overview of his obsession with the ocean and, in particular, his evolving exploration of the concept of the Sublime. A fascinating blend of imagination and observation, his pictures of storms and shipwrecks reflected the anxieties and ambitions of maritime Britain, as well as a personal pursuit of atmosphere and empirical style. Central to Turner's reputation as a modern master, they have become defining images of the Romantic era, as well as an imaginative point of departure for his creative legacy. Nicola Moorby is Curator of Historic British Art, 1790-1850 at Tate. A specialist in nineteenth century landscape, she is the author of Turner and Constable: Art, Life, Landscape, published by Yale University Press, 2025. Our talks are free to attend (you do not need a Dockyard admission ticket) but spaces are limited. Tickets must be booked in advance. FREE - book now DateThursday 1 October 2026LocationThe Commissioner's House at The Historic Dockyard ChathamTimeArrival from 5.30pm for a 6pm start. Wardroom bar will be open for drinks prior to the talk.BookingTalks are FREE to attend but we ask that you book in advance.

Thu 1 Oct18:30The Ropery

via The Ropery

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

History Sessions: The Whitstable Murder Club

No Content.

Thu 1 Oct19:00The Horsebridge Arts Centre

via The Horsebridge Arts Centre

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

History Sessions: The Whitstable Murder Club

No Content.

Thu 8 Oct19:00The Horsebridge Arts Centre

via The Horsebridge Arts Centre

Children & FamilyTalks & Lectures

Kent College Lecture – Daniel Susskind: What Should My Children Do

Canterbury Festival is putting on Kent College Lecture – Daniel Susskind: What Should My Children Do and we're making sure you know about it. Job done. Details on their site.

Mon 12 OctCanterbury Festival

via Canterbury FestivalLocal gem

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

History Sessions: The Whitstable Murder Club

No Content.

Thu 15 Oct19:00The Horsebridge Arts Centre

via The Horsebridge Arts Centre

History & HeritageTalks & Lectures

History Sessions: The Whitstable Murder Club

No Content.

Thu 22 Oct19:00The Horsebridge Arts Centre

via The Horsebridge Arts Centre

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