open Art 2025 – Accessible Art Across Folkestone

Open Art 2025 returns to Folkestone for its second year. The success of 2024 saw 137 artists involved across Folkestone. Now there are 225 artists exhibiting, collaborating and workshopping over the next three months.  Folkelife met with co-founders Thurle Wright and Jackie Kennedy to find out what to expect this year.

Thurle: “We had this idea when I went to visit the studios of Ernst Fischer and Rob Birch.  There’s been an ‘open studios’ event in June run by Creative Folkestone but we, as artists, never get a chance to see each other’s studios as we’re always operating our own at the time.  I realised I knew Ernst and Rob but I’d never been into their studios to know how they work.  So, we wandered around each other’s spaces and had an idea that we should support each other, build a network so we can work together all year round.  We also thought that we could have our own Open Studios season where artists could collaborate with each other, allowing space and time for talks, and time for people who aren’t part of the creative network to see what we do.”

creative folkestone

Thurle: “We approached Creative Folkestone who were very supportive of this idea, and gave us funds to run the 2024 event.  They’re supporting us this year too, along with many other sponsors.  Jackie was an artist participant last year,and this year is helping on the admin side too.”

Jackie: “Last year, there was a real feeling of energy around the whole 10 days.  We had 10,000 visitors and 137 artists involved. For me, as an artist involved, it was absolutely thrilling.  The weekends were concentrated with many visitors, and the weekdays were quieter.  But it was fascinating to see the range of people visiting our work.  

“I was based in the upstairs at The Pullman with a guy called Steve who had mini-golf, tiger golf.  The kids were absolutely enthralled with that.  Our exhibition was called Chaos and Calm.  My element was my paintings that are very calm and thought provoking.  Steve’s element had lots of activity, and we watched how people interacted.”

art in a pub

Jackie: “Being based in a pub was interesting too.  It’s not the place you go to experience art, so our visitors were people who came for a drink and bite to eat, and then discovered what we were doing.  The best bit for me was reading the visitor’s book afterwards.  Comments saying that the children wanted to go home and learn how to draw tigers, and how others wanted to look at their art at home and see how it made them feel.  People were getting involved in art who wouldn’t normally. “

Thurle: “And this year is the same, there will be art inside unassuming places, and also things to discover outside too.  There are many artists in town who wanted to be a part of Open Art, and it made sense to run alongside the Triennial. This year we have events happening across the three months from July to October, but with blooms happening at the end of each month.”

blooms of open art

Thurle: “These blooms are concentrated events happening across the weekends at the end of July, August and September.  In July we are launching, so that’s the first bloom.  At the end of August we will have an Open Studios event, and at the end of September we have the Fete of Folkestone. 

“We are working closely with the Fringe Folkestone people this year which makes a lot of sense. We’re sharing manpower, materials and expertise and all sorts of things.  Their focus in the Triennial happens later in the season. Two of their members sit on our steering committee so collaboration works.”

flexible and accessible

Thurle: “The great thing about running across three months is that people can do as much or as little as they are able.  If you only have half a day, then we can fit you in, if you can run an event over the three months, then that works too.  We have lots of independent exhibitions, open studios and other events.

“Each participant has a goodie bag with bunting and banners to highlight their venues.  We have a feedback form too to find out about visitors and their connections to art – do you go to millions of events, or do you never make anything?  We want to know as it helps us plan for next year, and is interesting to find out who is coming along.”

events and plan

Thurle: “We’ve got a website which showcases all of the events, and we’ve joined in with the Folkestone Fringe on this too so that people can find out what’s on in one place.”

Jackie: “You can search for an artist if there’s someone special you want to see, or you can also search for what’s happening on particular days.  It’s cleverly done so you can find out exactly what’s going on and when.”

Thurle: “Our events mean you can interact directly with the artists which helps everyone understand the work, and the practice.  If you’re here for the Triennial then there’s a chance to see how art works every day in Folkestone. And it’s not just paintings and sculptures, we’ve got flash choirs and music, markets and much more.” 

Open Art 2025 runs from 25th July to 19th October 2025.