Folkestone Triennial to Return in 2025

Tthe eagerly anticipated sixth edition of the internationally acclaimed Folkestone Triennial will take place in 2025.

Creative Folkestone Triennial is the UK’s largest and most ambitious exhibition of newly commissioned art in the public realm and the 2025 edition will be curated by Sorcha Carey, Director of Collective, the contemporary art centre in Edinburgh, for the first time. The exhibition will once again present an exhibition of artworks that aim to explore, challenge, and celebrate issues inspired by Folkestone and the wider world.

Folkestone Triennial 2025 is the creative partner for Folkestone - A Brighter Future levelling-up project led by Folkestone & Hythe District Council. The £20 million project will improve connectivity and transport links in Folkestone, connecting the rail and bus stations with the vibrant, bustling town centre, Creative Quarter, and harbour area. Once the work is complete, it will make the Folkestone Triennial exhibition spread from the seafront to the centre of town, making it more accessible to visitors.

Sorcha Carey, Curator, Folkestone Triennial 2025, said: “From the very beginning, Folkestone Triennial has brought the vision and ideas of artists directly into conversation with the public spaces and communities of Folkestone – offering a space to explore and reflect on the distinctive histories and places of Folkestone, and critically, to imagine new futures and possibilities. As we invite artists to develop new responses for our sixth edition, we are very excited to be working in partnership with Folkestone & Hythe District Council to ensure that art and creative thinking sit at the heart of this next chapter in Folkestone’s evolution.”

Alastair Upton, Chief Executive of Creative Folkestone, said:

“Folkestone Triennial is not just an art exhibition, it is a catalyst for economic and cultural growth. The influx of visitors from the local area and much further afield puts Folkestone on the map, shining a spotlight on the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that makes our town a great place to live, work, play and visit. Aligning the dates for the sixth Triennial with the investment that the Council is making through their levelling up bid means that we can extend the reach of that multi-million-pound investment to benefit the whole town like never before.”

Councillor Rich Holgate, Cabinet Member for Place Plan, Heritage, Tourism, and the District Economy, said:

“We are delighted to have appointed Creative Folkestone as our creative partners for the Folkestone – A Brighter Future project. We are committed to working together with Creative Folkestone and the community to achieve something that will have a lasting legacy for Folkestone town centre. Aligning the next Folkestone Triennial with the work we are doing from the Levelling Up Fund will help maximise the benefit of the huge improvements we plan to make to the town centre and its links for those walking or cycling.”

Since 2008, Folkestone Triennial has been one of the most influential and ambitious art festivals in the UK, attracting approximately 640,000 visitors with Folkestone Triennial 2021 welcoming more than 220,000 visitors alone. Folkestone Triennial has generated economic investment of more than 100 million pounds for the local area.

As anticipation for the next edition of the event builds, residents, arts enthusiasts, and the global community are invited to be part of the conversation about the transformative power of art. Follow the journey of Folkestone Triennial 2025 on social media @CreativeFstone