Celebrated historian Simon Schama is to give the inaugural Turner Lecture.

The 60-minute talk, supported by the KM Group, will be given at the Turner Contemporary gallery, Margate, on Wednesday April 25.

Business and other gallery supporters and sponsors are likely to be among an audience of more than 100. The event will also mark the gallery’s first anniversary.

Since opening on April 16, there have been more 400,000 visitors, with an estimated economic benefit to Margate of at least £3m.

Schama is professor of history and art history at Columbia University but is perhaps better known to the wider public for writing and hosting the 15-part BBC documentary series A History of Britain.

The lecture will help to raise funds for future exhibitions, learning and community outreach.

The event will open at 6.15pm with a drinks reception in the Sunley Gallery alongside Rodin’s The Kiss, followed by the lecture (6.45pm – 7.45pm) and a three-course dinner in the Foyle Rooms. The menu will be created by chef Adrian Mowl.

Advance tickets bought by March 25 cost £85.00 per person, with an advance table costing £600. After this date, the price will be £100, with a table of eight costing £700. Tickets with three-year patronage are £3,000.

Tickets can be booked online athttp://www.turnercontemporary.org/ /turnerlecture