The Folkestone Triennial 2014’s offers an extensive public programme with something for everyone. Two weekend conferences, field trips, artist-led events are just part of what to expect from the event.
Conferences: Imagined Cities: Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 October 2014 Imagined Cities examines the relationship between art and architecture in the realms of masterplanning and regeneration. Sir Terry Farrell, who produced the masterplan for Folkestone Harbour, will give a keynote talk, and Jude Kelly, Director of Southbank Centre, will be discussing the work she has been doing with Metal. Other speakers include Triennial artist Pablo Bronstein; Observer critic Rowan Moore; author Owen Hatherley; and two of the co-curators of the British Pavilion at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, Sam Jacob and Wouter Vanstiphout.
The Sculpture Question: Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 November 2014 The Sculpture Question (supported by UCA and Interreg), on the last weekend of the Triennial, asks the question: what is sculpture today? Speakers will look at the implications of sculpture’s increasing involvement with the public realm, and suggest new ways of looking and experiencing it. Keynote speakers are Penelope Curtis, Director of Tate Britain; American curator, writer and educator Mary Jane Jacob; and Nicolas Bourriaud, Director of École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Other speakers include writer and filmmaker Iain Sinclair, psychoanalystAnouchka Grose and Triennial artists Sarah Staton and Amina Menia.
Free Talks: Folkestone Triennial’s opening weekend offers the chance to hear several international Triennial artists speak about their work, as Curator, Lewis Biggs, hosts a panel discussion with Marjetica Potrč + Ooze Architects, Krijn de Koning, rootoftwo and Will Kwan.
During the Triennial, there are talks by Something & Son, Andy Goldsworthy, and a lecture about Folkestone Triennial’s title, Lookout, by Lewis Biggs. On the Edge, a professional day workshop organised by Situations, will examine risk-taking in public art, focusing on the work of Triennial artist Alex Hartley.
Free Field Trips: Field trips to Dungeness B Power Station, Hythe Military Ranges, a foraging tour around Folkestone and a HG Wells anniversary walking tour, invite us to consider what Folkestone will become in the future. Under the heading The Future is Already Here, the trips focus on issues of relevance for the town, and provide a context for Triennial artists’ works: food, war and energy. We also pay tribute to the futuristic vision of one of Folkestone’s most famous residents, HG Wells, to consider the future as seen from the past.
Free Guided Tours: A wide range of guided walking tours is available to suit all ages, abilities and levels of interest. Tours include weekly critics’ tours by professional art critics and curators, general tours, family tours, a local history tour, a BSL signed tour, a Nepalese translated tour, tours suitable for those with buggies, bicycles or dogs, and even a mobile crèche for leaving your child (3 months to 5 years) to play while you go exploring.
Many of the tours are led by local experts and MA students from local universities, University of the Creative Arts and University of Kent. For international visitors and local non-English speakers, there is an English as a Foreign Language tour, while audio guides will also be available in French, Spanish, Italian, German and Czech.
Free Workshops and Learning Events: The schools outreach programme has already generated huge interest. So far, Folkestone Triennial presentations have been given to over 10,000 pupils in 35 schools, stimulating their interest in the Triennial artworks and artists. Over 300 people in the local community have attended presentations and historical talks. 80 local teachers have signed up for the new Teacher Twilight Tours, while local schools are taking part in the Opening Weekend celebrations to share their talents and celebrate the Lookout theme.
Schools and family workshops will be led by local arts practitioners, as well as a number of Triennial artists. These workshops will offer something for everyone – from needlework to printmaking and much more!
A Young Person’s Guide has been tailored to suit younger audiences to encourage them to interact with and enjoy the artworks and town of Folkestone. Three Learning Packs – Primary, Secondary and EFL – are available for teachers to download from the Triennial website to engage learners of all ages and nationalities with the artworks: www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk/learning/schools/
A National Student Day on 22 October invites students and staff from around the UK to gather together for a series of focused tours, presentations and workshops by Folkestone Triennial artists and staff.
Free Communities Events: In the run-up to the Triennial, events have brought together Folkestone’s various groups and communities, such as the beach-hut owners, who gathered for a BBQ and talk about the history of beach-huts. A series of contextual history talks (including topics such as hop farming, fishing and artworks in the Grand Hotel) have engaged many local-history enthusiasts. Another is planned on the history of sculpture by Sarah Staton(Triennial artist and lecturer at Royal College of Art).
The Kent Women’s Arts Club has been running throughout the Triennial year as a networking club for creative women in East Kent. Guest speakers include Sandra Drew, Founder of Stour Valley Arts, and filmmaker Clio Barnard, Director of The Selfish Giant.
Folkestone Triennial Public Programmes are organised by Frances Chiverton (Schools & Communities) and Jennifer Thatcher (FE/HE and Adults).