Place Alliance Big Meet 7

Folkestone’s Urban Room

Lewis Biggs and Diane Dever

University College London,

25 April 2017

Folkestone

Folkestone’s Urban Room1994 Channel Tunnel (Folkestone by-pass) completed.

2004 Last ferry leaves Folkestone; economy ‘down the tube’

2004 Creative Foundation founded

2006 Folkestone Triennial initiated (first edition 2008)

Triennial modelled on Sculpture Project Münster (since 1977)

IE site-specific commissions leading to a ‘permanent collection in and of the town’, rather than the more usual ‘outdoor exhibition of studio art’

Folkestone Triennial / Sculpture Project Münster

“2017 will see the fifth edition of the Sculpture Project Münster, which continues to be the most renowned international event devoted to art in public spaces. Thanks to it, LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur and the City of Münster reflect upon almost 40 years of solid local expertise in the field. …

The topic of art and public space continues to remain highly relevant, be it in the form of urban sculptures or landscape interventions, setting up areas for social activity or transforming erstwhile functional locations. Not only among art experts, but also as an everyday experience for the inhabitants and citizens of our modern cities.” (Sculpture Project Münster official website)

Folkestone’s Urban Room

Folkestone’s Urban RoomFolkestone Fringe formed 2008, artist-led and engaged with regeneration agenda.

Creation of opportunity for artists, interaction with community.

By 2014, general success in town regeneration meant fewer pop-up spaces offered as opportunity for artists.

Creation, through art, of new public spaces in port / disused station (heritage site) – related to planned seafront development.

During 2014 Triennial, the Fringe offered a 10 week programme based in a shipping container HUB.

Fringe Website Home Page 2008

FringeWebsiteHome Page2011

2014

Harbour Area during renovations

Fringe Hub2014

Folkestone’s Urban RoomLewis Biggs appointed curator for 2014 Triennial January 2012.

Emphasis on art-led urbanism: artists imagining / inspiring change to the urban environment.

Research requirement fulfilled by commissioning an Urban Analysis February 2015 from Diane Dever and John Letherland (Farrell's masterplanner for Folkestone seafront).

What is an Urban Analysis? History, geography: stories, maps.

Density of thinking makes a better place.

Gabriel Lester

Cross Rail Observation DeckFolkestone Triennial 2014

Urban Analysis

Walking Workshops for Folkestone’sUrban Room

Folkestone’s Urban RoomFrom Fringe Hub to Urban Room through engagement with the Waterfront Development

Direct interaction / critical dialogue with Waterfront master-planning team

Focus on Harbour Arm as ‘public space’ with incubation for local businesses.

Invitation to ‘narrate’ and ‘curate’ public space - an arts programme creating a destination.

Recovery of Civic Pride.

330,000 visitors to Harbour Arm in 2016.

Farell’s Masterplan for the Waterfront Development

Narrative for the Harbour Link

Music on Folkestone’sHarbour Arm2016

Thank you.

Folkestone Triennial 2017

2 September – 5 November

http://www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk/

http://www.folkestonefringe.com