top of page
I Predict a Riot...
In a touring exhibition that will take in 36 sites in the UK, artist Jimmy Cauty’s container will be hitting Folkestone in August as the only town in Kent to be part of the The Aftermath Dislocation Principle (ADP) Riot Tour.
Following the success of his model riot village at Dismaland the former KLF member, who notoriously burnt £1m has created a touring riot in a graffitied shipping container. Dotted with peep holes, where members of the public can peer in to see the post-riot townscape in the form of a model village, each town where the tour exhibits has its own riot history, and Folkestone is no exception.
Back in 1969 a demonstration by young people over three days in May sparked off fighting, resulting in the cartoonist Giles publishing his response in the Daily Express. The following year the issues were still present after the National Council of Civil Liberties (NCCL) received a number of complaints from young people in Folkestone about their treatment.
In a letter published in May 1970, the NCCL stated that: ‘There is unmitigated hostility against young people who met in the High Street from almost all influential citizens in the town. No doubt the young people invite much of this hostility but this must be understood in context of the environment in which they live. If local traders and the council spent as much time, effort and money in a positive attempt to help and promote the interests of the town’s young people as they now do in repressing them, I am sure things would improve.’
In 2016 people are being asked to take part in a different type of riot. Arriving in Folkestone on Monday 8 August where is stays for one week, Jimmy Cauty’s container will be placed next to the bandstand on the Leas by a haulage company, chosen as the site with the support of the local council by Leigh Mulley, the local artist who also exhibited at Dismaland and artist Sam Millen.
Together they have been trying to find ways for the town to benefit from the exhibition and have created projects, linking in with the Creative Quarter and local businesses to support the tour. A large part of which are asking members of the public of any age, to create riot jars – grab an empty jar and ‘visualise your grumblings’ by putting your message, about anything you want inside. They will then be displayed in a number of locations around the town and the Creative Quarter will also be putting on a family workshop to make jars.
Merchandise will also be for sale, both at the container where all the invigilators are local people who have donated their time, and at Hot Salvation Records on Rendezvous Street. Other events include music at The Chambers and a trailer shown by the Open Air Cinema ahead of the outdoor screening on the Harbour Arm of ‘Everyone’s Going to Die’.
Photo Credit Merthyr
Photo Credit Thomas Mayer
News clipping of original Riots in Folkestone
Sam is also out and about photographing local traders in a riot helmet. Follow the tour and all the local events and businesses supporting it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using #adpriottour #riotinfolkestone
Hand in your riot jars to: The Dirty Pen, Hot Salvation Records, Eakins, Steep Street, Atelier FeralChild and Inspiring Interiors
ADP Riot Tour
@ The Leas, 8 - 15 August
bottom of page