ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT 21
ON THE ARTS MAP
FOLKESTONE TRIENNIAL 2025:
A TOWN SHAPED BY ART AND SHARED BY MANY
From clifftops to hidden bunkers, church naves to the edge of the sea, Folkestone Triennial 2025 transformed the town into a living exhibition for 92 days last summer.
Curated by Sorcha Carey, How Lies the Land? invited people to look again at the ground beneath their feet- its histories, its futures and the stories held within it. Across streets, coastlines and public spaces, artists worked in dialogue with Folkestone itself, creating new ways to experience the town.
The triennial is never just about what happens in the moment, however. It leaves a lasting imprint- not only through the ideas it sparks, but through its impact on the town and the communities who shape it.
The newly published Impact Report reflects the scale of what happened here, in a town of just over 50,000 people. An estimated 270,000 people visited Folkestone during the triennial- more than five times the town’ s population- generating over £ 13 million for the local economy.
Just as important is how deeply people engaged with the work. More than 25,000 people took part in the public programme, from walks and talks to workshops and performances- around half the town’ s population. Nearly 12,000 children and young people were involved through schools and activities, reaching almost every school-aged child in Folkestone and connecting new generations with contemporary art for years to come.
Behind the scenes, the exhibition was powered by local knowledge and skill. Artists worked alongside project managers, fabricators and technicians based in the area, while the public programme brought together a wide range of creatives- from musicians and dancers to tour guides and learning specialists.
A team of 44 hosts helped shape the experience for visitors, offering a warm welcome and sharing their knowledge across sites. Most were local, and for some, the triennial opened up new pathways into the creative sector.
Together, these contributions speak to something bigger than an exhibition. They show how art can connect people to place, create opportunities and bring different parts of a community into conversation.
Folkestone Triennial continues to grow as an evolving, town-wide collection and a shared experience- shaped as much by the people who live and work here as by the artists themselves.
creativefolkestone. org. uk creativefstone
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