Coastal arts leader exits charity after more than a decade in role

Arts charity Creative Folkestone is to say goodbye to its chief executive of 14 years.

ALASTAIR UPTON will step down from the role in July next year, and said of his decision to leave the Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation: “It feels like the right time”.

Creative Folkestone is to begin the recruitment process for his successor in the next few months.

Upton joined the charity in January 2012. He’d previously held roles including as the director of Charleston, once the Sussex home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.

In his time at the organisation, Upton has overseen multiple iterations of the arts festival Folkestone Triennial, this autumn’s Book Festival, and the launch of the Folkestone Is A Library project.

He also worked on the Saving Prospect Cottage campaign, which worked to protect Derek Jarman’s home at Dungeness and established Creative Folkestone as the property’s custodian.

Upton said of his departure: “It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead Creative Folkestone over the past 14 years.

“I’m incredibly proud of what the charity, its trustees, staff and supporters have achieved, bringing world-class art to the Kent coast, supporting local talent and demonstrating how creativity can connect communities. With the 2025 Triennial marking a real high point, it feels like the right time to hand over next summer to new leadership to guide Creative Folkestone into its next chapter.”

Chair of the Creative Folkestone board, Sir ROGER DE HAAN, added: “Alastair has been an outstanding cultural leader who has shown the transformative power of the arts for people and places.

“His passion, vision and dedication have made a lasting impact on the organisation, on Folkestone and everyone who has worked with him. The board and I are deeply grateful for his leadership and legacy.”