open Art folke – Accessible Art Across Folkestone

Open Art Folke returns to Folkestone for its third year on the 9th, 10th and 11th October 2026.  After the past two years, with ever increasing numbers of artists involved, collaboration is key, and that’s what has made it such a success over the years.  Stephen Aron Williams is one of the team of volunteer organisers, he spoke to Folkelife about how the festival works.

“The theme for 2026 is ‘Art This Way’ and you can take that any way you like.  We aren’t a curated festival; we want artists to feel they can contribute in any way, as long as it’s legal!  What is offensive to one person, might not be to the next; art is always subjective. The success of Open Art Folke has grown year on year.  Now it involves so many local artists that we, as the organising team, wanted to be more like a tourist board.  We want to point both artist and visitor in the direction of something to discover.  

“Once again, we are spread across town too.  We have many artists to see around The Old High Street, Harbour and Sandgate Road area.  We also reach out to Docker Tap Room on Park Farm, and into Sandgate too.  There are 178 artists involved this year, which, considering we’re running over a 3 day weekend, and not a three month period like last year, that’s a huge amount of participants.”

a book and interactive map

“This year we have created a book, which you can download from the website, and there’s also an interactive map. All our artists are very local to Folkestone and looking forward to opening their studios or exhibiting in galleries and spaces around town.”

Pachanga

“We have a lot of collaborations going on.  Naveed Khan is a potter, and an actor, and has a collection of pieces on show called ‘Finding Form’.  He has teamed up with the charity Touchbase Care which is a centre on Tontine Street for adults with physical and learning disabilities.  The charity runs sessions to enable their members to live a fulfilling, independent life.  They regularly meet artists and create work that is exhibited for all to see. 

“I’ve been working with another Tontine Street business – Burrito Buoy, and ceramicist, David Froude.  We have created a series of Pachanga cups.  Pachanga is a type of Cuban music, but in Mexican, the word is slang for a ‘wild and raucous party’.  So we have created some ceramic cups to drink wonderful cocktails from.  Expect some Mexican films and a big party happening at Burrito Buoy.”

live drawing with a boxer

“Sue Bridge and Victoria Dini are taking on a live drawing class at F51 with a boxer.  Everyone is able to join in and draw, should they wish.  Sue specialises in the female form, and with Victoria’s experimental in-camera, multi-exposure photography, together they are going to draw and photograph coach Kath Smith in the boxing ring. 

“Across the three days there are groups of artists coming together to collaborate for the first time to do many pop-up shows. Come on a fungal walks to discover mushrooms!  Strange Cargo is exhibiting again; Docker Tap Room have many artists showing their work there, and there’s more to see in Cheriton and Sandgate as well.”

volunteering

“We are a core team of volunteers who run the festival, but we’re very happy to take on new members.  I have been involved for three years, and would be happy for someone new to join.

“It’s a lot of work, and sometimes it’s hard to get your creative work done as well as the festival load.  But it’s a great thing to be involved in.  I have certainly learned a lot about myself, my practice and working with others through this process.  I would really encourage anyone wanting to give it a go to come along and get involved.”

Open Art Folke 2026 runs from 9th to 11th October 2026.