ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Open Quarter 2017
AT FOLKESTONE CREATIVE QUARTER
OPEN QUARTER IS A CELEBRATION OF THE FOLKESTONE CREATIVE QUARTER AND ITS COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS, MAKERS, CREATIVE BUSINESSES, SHOPS, CAFES, BARS AND RESTAURANTS. IT IS BOTH A SHOWCASE OF THE WEALTH OF TALENT THAT MAKE THIS URBAN VILLAGE SUCH AN EXCITING PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE YOUR OWN CREATIVITY. WITH OVER 70 PARTICIPATING SHOPS AND STUDIOS, AS WELL AS SPECIALLY CURATED PERFORMANCES AND UNIQUE EVENTS, IT IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT FOLKESTONE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CREATIVE REGENERATION TAKING PLACE THERE.
The weekend launches at Quarterhouse on Friday 16th June with Connecting Creatives, a relaxed quick-fire presentation evening featuring some of Folkestone’ s fast-rising creatives and creative businesses. Each year this free event has proven to be bigger and better with a variety of compelling speakers revealing some amazing achievements and collaborations.
On Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th June, the Creative Quarter throws open its doors to the public with over 70 artist studios, workshops, exhibitions, open houses and much more. No matter where you go in the Creative Quarter you will discover something new. If you drop into one of the many studio groups hidden behind the usually closed doors of Tontine Street and The Old High Street, you’ ll find industrious hives that are home to jewellers, tailors, sculptors, painters, framers, web designers, performers and architects. In addition to open studios, you’ ll also have the chance to visit independent gallery spaces, each featuring artists and works that have been specifically curated for the Open Quarter weekend. Be sure to drop into Whelk Boy Gallery, Space 7 Gallery and The Old High Street’ s newest neon addition, Sentient.
Open Quarter is not just about exploring, it’ s also about creating – there are a great range of free workshops for all the family. Drop into artist Samuel Capell’ s studio and you can learn how to screen print; all you’ ll need is an old plain t-shirt or tote bag that you want to jazz up with a premade design. If you have always wanted to learn the art of silversmithing, book in for Hiraeth Creative’ s ring making taster session. The Creative Foundation’ s dedicated art studio, Block 67, celebrates its first birthday with a free drop-in family workshop where you and your family can learn how to make your very own sock puppets.
Quarterhouse presents a creatively charged weekend with a stunning theatre production on Saturday night, a rocking family theatre show on Sunday morning, and Folkestone’ s third‘ Big Lunch’ on Sunday afternoon in Payers Park. The Big Lunch is free, just bring along a dish to share with your neighbours, sit back and enjoy live music from Mariachi Tequila.
As well as a fantastic programme of events, Open Quarter is also the perfect excuse to do a spot of shopping in a wonderful array of independent shops, or to meet up with friends and relax in one of many cosy cafes or restaurants.
For more information and to download this year’ s full programme visit: creativequarterfolkestone. org. uk / open-quarter /
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