Fakenham turns town centre into enormous art gallery

Fakenham Arts Festival, which is running until August 24, will see a host of artwork displayed in the windows of more than 60 venues across the town.

The event, organised by community group Active Fakenham, has been designed with the hopes of making art more accessible while boosting high street business at the same time. 

More than 45 artists, ranging from students to experienced professionals, have contributed to pieces that can now be seen in the likes of retailers, solicitors and the town’s sports centre. 

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Art has been displayed across Fakenham (Image: Richard Crook)

Richard Crook, the founder of Active Fakenham, said the festival could help reshape how people think about town centres.

“It’s reimagining town centres because they need to change and this is one little way where they can do that”, he said. 

“I think it will bring some economic benefits to the town, and it’s something for young kids and local people to do. 

Richard Crook talking at the opening of Fakenham Arts Festival (Image: Keith Osborne)

Just a day into the festival, Mr Crook has said that he had already begun to see its impact.

“I saw a family walking round saying, ‘Oh look, there’s more pictures in this window’, and they didn’t strike me as the kind of family that would go to the Tate.

“Rather than expecting people to come to you, you’re taking the art out.

“That’s what this is about.”

There are a host of exhibitions and workshops for all ages that will also run throughout the month, most of them low-cost or free.

Organisers hope the displays will boost interest in art and high street businesses. (Image: Richard Crook)

“It will build community by bringing different communities together”, added Mr Crook.

“It’s probably the biggest art exhibition in Norfolk. I don’t know of anything quite like it.”

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The festival is part of a wider month of events organised by Active Fakenham, which also includes Ride North Norfolk, a non-competitive cycling event taking place on the same day as the festival finale.

The group is also hosting a film festival in September, where a short film documenting the Art Festival – created by an award-winning filmmaker – will be premiered.

Established in 2013, Active Fakenham is run by a group of passionate volunteers.

It was all smiles at the opening of the festival (Image: Keith Osborne)

Mr Crook said: “I wasn’t expecting it to get quite so big.”

“People keep asking me why I do it and I say I don’t really know – it’s gotten out of hand.”

You can read more about the event and Active Fakenham on their website here.