Flint & Clay 2025

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

These are charged times. The social and political landscape is shifting under our feet. Here we step on weald clay, greensand and chalk, across scattered flints and eggshells. 

But we hold both Flint & Clay in our hands. 

We can shape arrowheads, or hearths, build walls or build fires that warm and feed us.

Exploring what we choose to hold onto, for Folkestone Fringe 2025, we will curate a town-wide conversation around three key questions/themes:

  • What connects us?
  • What divides us?
  • (Un)Imagined Futures
     

STRUCTURE

Flint & Clay will run from 1 September to 19 October 2025. 

The Fringe team will curate three ‘trails’ from proposals submitted under each of the themes. 

We are looking for public, participatory, performance and visual art work proposed by local organisations and individuals, at a variety of scales, which invite people to connect with their own thoughts and feelings whilst (re)exploring their town.

<< APPLY HERE >>

CRITERIA

In order to submit your event or activity to be part of Flint & Clay, it must:

  • Take place between 1 September and 19 October 2025
  • Align clearly with one (or more) of the questions/themes
  • Be accessible and inclusive 
  • Be self-managed (we do not have the resources to assist with project production or administration)
  • Be risk assessed and insured for Public Liability (this can be obtained for £38 per year through www.a-n.co.uk/about/insurance
  • Have all necessary permissions in place 

HOW TO SUBMIT

<< APPLY HERE >>

  1. Fill in the form, making sure you include ALL the details, before the deadline: TUESDAY 29TH JULY 23:59
  2. Wait to hear back from us - we will be in touch within two weeks of receiving your registration to confirm your place.
  3. By mid-August, you will need to send risk assessments and insurance for any work happening in public spaces. 

ADVICE & GUIDANCE

  • Not sure if your project meets the criteria? 
  • Don’t know how to do a risk assessment? 
  • Need to find a venue or get permission to use a public space? 
  • What if your project doesn’t meet all the criteria? 

We can help! 

We are working with Open Art Folke 25 to make sure the whole town knows what is happening and how to get involved in all the creative activity taking place throughout the Triennial period (19 July - 19 Oct). Come along to one of our joint ‘Labs’ to find out more, speak to one of the organisers, meet fellow creatives and talk about your project.

OAF25 X FF Labs:

  • Wed 21 May 18:00 @Kollectiv l Wed 25 June 18:00 @Kollectiv
    (69 The Old High Sreet, Folkestone CT20 1RN)
     
  • Wed  23rd July 18:00 @Mugs @Urban Room l Wed 20th August 18:00 @Mugs @Urban Room
    (The Urban Room, Harbour Street, Tram Road Carpark, Folkestone, CT20 1QN)
Progress Agency