Sidmouth Wallspace is now showing “May Day Madness” by Kyle Baker, and a new photographic exhibition “A Sidmouth Folk Festival Portrait” is set to open at the weekend in the Riverside Artspace in the Sensory Garden, with the twin Market Square telephone box micro museums simultaneously hosting linked installations; “A SMALL QUIET ENGLISH TOWN” and “Traditions of Folk”.
Sidmouth’s unique old and new focussed micro museums will house curios and artefacts alongside audio and folk festival paraphernalia from the award winning documentary film A SMALL QUIET ENGLISH TOWN.
This three-venue multimedia Sidmouth Folk Festival free public art trail showcases photography, film and artefacts on display from the end of July through to November and will be seen by the many thousands that attend the festival as well as by residents and visitors through summer and autumn.
This collaboration between Sidmouth School of Art, Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub, Sidmouth Folk Festival, TPL Films, photographers JJ Waller and Kyle Baker and members of the public – brings together the festival’s history and evolution. Spotlighting culture, folk lore, music, dance and the joy of participation and special sense of place that Sidmouth enjoys as the host venue for this long-lasting festival.
May Day Madness at Sidmouth Wallspace is an image taken by local photographer Kyle Baker, during the pandemic when the festival was halted. Depicting Sidmouth’s iconic red cliff backdrop with members of the Otter Morris dancing up the sun. A show of community resilience rising early to celebrate Beltane, the Gaelic tradition marking the start of summer. Find out more here May Day Madness | Sidmouth School Of Art
A Sidmouth Folk Festival Portrait is a follow-on exhibition of the Your Town My Town project which began in 2024. Brighton-based photographer JJ Waller, as photographer in residence, captured Sidmouth’s sense of civic pride – a portrait of the many different aspects of community life.
This latest exhibition presents some of the vibrant views that you may see on Sidmouth streets the first week of every August. JJ’s images taken during the 70th anniversary of the festival are featured alongside Sidmouth’s own photographer and videographer, Kyle Baker. 12 public submissions are also on show. Find out more here A Sidmouth Folk Festival Portrait | Sidmouth School Of Art
The exhibition in the newly created Riverside Art Space in the Sensory Garden is located at the end of the Ham in Sidmouth. The work is displayed on five ‘gabion’ baskets in the garden and the building at the location which connects people, place art and nature.
The third art space in a linked twin installation are housed in the Market Square in Sidmouth’s historic red telephone boxes, repurposed as community art spaces by Sidmouth School of Art.
The Micro Museum of Contemporary Art houses A SMALL QUIET ENGLISH TOWN with artefacts, audio and memorabilia highlighted in this award-winning documentary by TPLfilms. The exhibition also celebrates the launch of the DVD of the film plus live streaming options – to ensure the widest audience and a legacy for the festival.
Whilst Traditions of Folk in the Micro Museum of Antiquities displays curios, poetry and images that chart the evolution of the festival.
Find out more here A Small Quiet English Town & Traditions of Sidmouth Folk Festival | Sidmouth School Of Art
The community and visitors can explore each outdoor venue before, during and beyond the Folk Festival 2025.
Supporting Art and Culture in the community…
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Sidmouth School of Art is about creativity and wellbeing through art and culture. Co-founder David Shrigley, OBE: “Art is about discovering what something means to you and expressing what you think and feel.”
Encouraging and engaging with art and our creative selves is a path to wellbeing and happiness.