A Celebration of the Community by the Community
For the third year running, Sidmouth School of Art have led what has become a flagship project – high above the town for everyone to enjoy, whilst also promoting a great sense of community belonging, support and wellbeing.
In an amazing show of collaboration, there are 45 colourful flags now in total, created by a range of community groups flying over Sidmouth High Street and Fore Street. The flags will be on display until the first week of September to be enjoyed across the summer season.
Five new flags were added following design workshops led by Coco Hodgkinson, Sidmouth School of Art’s Artistic Director, who also made many of the flags this year. Joining the flag fold in 2026 are Sid Valley Memory Café, Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat, Sidmouth Watersports Hub, Sidmouth Arboretum and Sidmouth Cricket, Tennis and Croquet Club. In addition over 200m of multicoloured bunting was made with some added to the display in the High Street.
The third year was made possible thanks to Sidmouth Town Council who have contributed to the installation and take down of the flags which was done by NTS Platforms with their cherry picker. Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce also kindly supported some of the fabric and equipment costs.
Artistic Director Coco Hodgkinson said; “This project continues to receive a lot of love and attention – both by those who really feel proud of their group as we lead them through a process to visually represent the meaning and purpose of their particular group or club. It helps people to reflect on just how important their group is to them and to others. Collectively it is such a brilliant way to show our town and its strong sense of community belonging and identity.”
Louise Cole, SSA’s Director of Development added – “There is so much evidence to show how art and creativity helps to boost people’s wellbeing both through taking part and in viewing the art on show. We are very proud to be delivering our third year of this vibrant festival – despite this being the hardest yet for arts funding. A lot of hardwork and passion goes into the process – it is joyful to see it adding so much to the town in time for visitors to also experience it.”
Sidmouth School of Art will be seeking to continue the project into its fourth year and to welcoming more groups to the display. Organisations can email info@sidmouthart.org to get involved for next year, when more bunting will also be added.
A cross section including environmental, schools, cultural, social, sports, festivals and community support groups and organisations are represented by their unique flags this year.
The groups represented in the flags are:
- Sid Valley Biodiversity Group
- Friends of the Byes
- Sidmouth Plastic Warriors
- River Sid Catchment Group
- Sid Valley Help
- Sidmouth Hospice at Home
- Oasis Café
- Sid Life – independent supported living
- Sidmouth Sea Fest
- Sidmouth Science Festival
- Sidmouth Folk Festival
- Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival
- Sidmouth College
- Sidmouth College LGBTQ
- Norman Lockyer Observatory
- Dissenter of Sidmouth
- Chit Rocks Beach Ramp Project
- Branscombe – a resident’s view
- Sidmouth Hot Cross Bun Committee
- Sidmouth Steppers
- Sidmouth U3A
- The Collective in Sidmouth
- Sidmouth WI
- Primley WI
- Sidmouth Repair Café
- Sidmouth Cycling Campaign
- Sidmouth Running Club
- Sidmouth Choral Society
- Sid Vale Storytellers
- Sidmouth Patchers and Quilters
- Sidmouth Photographic Club
- Sidmouth School of Art
- Sidmouth Voluntary Services
- Sidmouth Model Railway Group
- Sidmouth Town Council
- Sidmouth Bowling Club
- Sidmouth International School
- Eco Hub Sidmouth
- Leisure East Devon
- Cast Offs
- Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat
- Sid Valley Memory Café
- Sidmouth Arboretum
- Sidmouth Cricket, Tennis and Croquet Club
- Sidmouth Watersports Hub
Find out more details about the project – where all the flags and which groups they represent are listed on the Sidmouth School of Art website Sidmouth Festival of Flags | Sidmouth School Of Art (sidmouthart.org)
The Sidmouth Festival of Flags project is being led by Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub and visual arts charity Sidmouth School of Art (1199539), whose mission is to involve the
community and build creative confidence and wellbeing through art and whose vision is to make Sidmouth the artwork, Sidmouth residents the artists.
To find out more, collaborate or donate please visit www.sidmouthart.org