Culture Minister Ed Vaizey believes Margate's Turner Contemporary could become a world-renowned gallery.

Speaking at a launch meeting at the House of Commons last night, Mr Vaizey spoke of his high hopes for the gallery and recalled happy memories of childhood visits to Ramsgate to stay with his aunt and uncle.

The VIP gathering also heralded the Art Works Project which is a youth-based initiative to make young people involved with the arts centre.

Margate-born artist Tracey Emin, and Thanet MPs Roger Gale and Laura Sandys were among the guests which also included Kent Business editor Trevor Sturgess.

He said: "The mood was extremely positive and upbeat. Great things are expected for the area from the Turner Contemporary and the overall feeling at the House of Commons was that the gallery will deliver."

Meanwhile, free events for the public have been announced to celebrate the long-awaited opening of Kent's flagship art gallery, the Turner Contemporary in Margate.

The 10-day programme under the umbrella title You Are Here runs from April 16-25 and will be held in the gallery at the harbour and around the old town area.

Music, dance, live performance and art from specially commissioned, site-specific art works to choreographed performances will be brought together as a celebration to establish Margate as the home of Turner Contemporary.

The events run in tandem with the inaugural exhibition Revealed: Turner Contemporary Opens which runs until September 4.

Artists commissioned are Nicole Mollett, Christian Nold, assume vivid astrofocus, Sarah Spencer, Tracey Falcon and Sophie Herxheimer. Performances are by Cocos Lovers, Portico Quartet, Samba Pelo Mar, Kent Youth Band plus a choral performance by The Big Sing choir composed by Orlando Gough.

Graphic designers Abake - Patrick Lacey, Kajsa Stahl, Benjamin Reichen and Maki Suzuki - will be working with residents to create a memory map of Margate in a 1950s streamline caravan parked on the stone pier.

Theatre Royal Margate, Strange Works and local designers HKD are also working with Turner Contemporary to celebrate Turner's, St George and Shakespeare's birthday on April 23, with a birthday party for the whole town.

You Are Here events include:

Bodies in Urban Spaces

Date: Saturday, April 16 and Sunday April 17

Time: 11am and 4pm

Location: Margate Old Town

Blank Canvas

Welcome to the wonderful world of Etagram - an imaginary map of Margate handmade by Turner's intergenerational group.

Date: From April 16

Location: Learning studio

Cocos Lovers

Date: Saturday April 16

Time: 8pm

Location: The Foyle Rooms

Portico Quartet

Date: Sunday April 17

Time: 3pm

Location: Foyle Rooms

The Big Sing

Date: Sunday April 17 and Saturday April 23

Time: 2.30pm and 4.30pm

Location: North Gallery

The Songs of the Sublime

Date: Sunday April 17

Time: 7.30pm

Location: John Sunley Gallery

Kent Cultural Baton

Date: Saturday April 16 until Monday April 25

Time: 10am-7pm

Location: Stone Pier

Why Disneyland is Not in Margate

Graphic designers Abake - Patrick Lacey, Kajsa Stahl, Benjamin Reichen and Maki Suzuki in residence in a 1950s streamline caravan

Date: Tuesday April 19 - Monday April 25

Location: Stone Pier

Margate Emotion Map

Christian Nold will lead a workshop on Tuesday April 19 at 11am and 3pm.

Date: Tuesday April 19 - Friday April 22

Time: 10am - 5.30pm

Location: Foyle Rooms

Weightless Drawing

Date: Tuesday April 19

Time: 12pm - 4pm

Location: Learning Studio

(Please collect a timed ticket at reception)

Wonder Lab

Date: Wednesday April 20 and Thursday April 21

Time: 10am - 4pm, 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm

Location: Learning Studio

The Birthday Pre-Party

Date: Friday April 22

Time: 1pm-4pm

Learning Studio

The Birthday Party

Date: Saturday April 23

Performers in Margate Old Town between 12 noon and 2pm, performances in the Foyle Rooms at 1pm and 3pm and a banquet in the Learning Studio 1pm until 4pm

Location: Margate Old Town, Foyle Rooms and Learning Studio

Turn On, Tune In and Dance Off Silent Disco

Date: Sunday April 24

Time: 9pm

Location: Foyle Rooms

Ticketed: £5

To book your ticket please go to www.turnercontemporary.org website or visit our reception desk.

WE HAVE ARRIVED

Date: Bank Holiday Monday April 25

Time: 10am - 7pm

Location: Terrace, Foyle Rooms, John Sunley Gallery

For more information visit the Turner Contemporary website