Creative Folkestone has announced the appointment of Ann Marie Peña as the curator of Folkestone Triennial 2028, the seventh edition of the internationally significant exhibition of contemporary art in public space.
Ann Marie Peña takes over from Sorcha Carey, curator of the critically acclaimed Folkestone Triennial 2025, which welcomed an estimated 270,000 visitors, generated more than £13 million in economic activity and engaged over 25,000 people through a free public programme.
The next edition of Folkestone Triennial is due to take place in summer 2028 and marks an important milestone as the exhibition celebrates its 20th anniversary. Since 2008, Folkestone Triennial has commissioned ambitious new artworks by leading international artists, transforming Folkestone into one of the UK's most distinctive destinations for contemporary art and creativity.
As curator, Ann Marie Peña will lead the artistic vision for Folkestone Triennial 2028, working with artists, collectives and communities to develop a programme of newly commissioned artworks that respond to Folkestone, its people, its past and its future
Philippine Nguyen, chief executive, Creative Folkestone, said:
“Ann Marie Peña is an inspiring curator whose work demonstrates a deep commitment to artists, audiences and place. As we approach the 20th anniversary of Folkestone Triennial, her appointment reflects our ambition to continue pushing boundaries and presenting world-class contemporary art that connects with people in meaningful ways.
“The Triennial has become one of the defining cultural events in the UK. Ann Marie's vision, experience and collaborative approach will help us build on that success, enabling artists and communities to shape the next chapter of this internationally recognised exhibition.”
Ann Marie Peña said:
“For the 2028 Triennial, marking twenty years of this remarkable project, I want to take up the invitation to build on 2025's How Lies the Land, asking how the histories written into this coastline, from empire and the movement of plants and people to the changes in climate unfolding before our eyes, can help us imagine what we owe to the future. Few places in the UK offer a stage like this: art made with and for the people of Folkestone, out in the open air, on the cliffs, in the streets and down by the sea.”
For more than two decades, Creative Folkestone has used creativity as a catalyst for positive social change, helping to transform the town while creating opportunities for artists, residents and visitors. Through Folkestone Triennial, the organisation has demonstrated international leadership in place-led cultural regeneration and commissioned artworks that continue to shape the town through Folkestone Artworks, the UK's largest urban outdoor exhibition of contemporary art.
The appointment of Ann Marie Peña signals the beginning of the next chapter for Folkestone Triennial. As preparations for 2028 begin, Creative Folkestone continues its commitment to creating ambitious cultural experiences that transform places, support artists and inspire future generations.
