A curator and cultural consultant with an international reputation has joined the Board of Trustees for Folkestone’s Leas Lift.
Lewis Biggs OBE has been appointed to the volunteer Board that is supporting the restoration and re-opening of the Lift. A Folkestone resident for the past 10 years, he was curator of Creative Folkestone Triennial in 2014, 2017 and 2021 during which time he also curated exhibitions in China, Japan and Mongolia.
Floortje Hoette, Chief Executive Officer of Folkestone Leas Lift Company Charity, said: “Lewis brings an immense depth of experience in a valuable field that will strengthen the skills of the Board and help ensure we present the story of the Lift to the public in an engaging and informative way. I am very pleased he has agreed to join us.”
Since 2013 Lewis has been Chairman of the Institute for Public Art – a global network of researchers concerned with place creation through culture/art-led urbanism. From 2017 he has been a consultant to the Magic Carpets European Union Creative Partnership platform, operating in 15 countries.
Lewis said: “I’m delighted to be invited to contribute as a Trustee to the rebirth of the Leas Lift as the heart and soul of the community. The Trustees are a great team and they’ve recently appointed a great CEO. I shall be bringing my appreciation of Folkestone’s history and community as a resident to the table as well as my professional knowledge.”
Formerly Director of Tate Liverpool 1990-2000 and Director of Liverpool Biennial 2000-2011, Lewis is also a volunteer Trustee of the John Moores Painting Prize Trust, and of the International Award for Art Criticism (IAAC).
The campaign to save the Grade II* Listed at risk Leas Lift – a nationally significant heritage asset – began in 2018 when volunteers came together to save the lift and ensure its future.
In November 2023, the charity secured £4.8m of support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, meaning the overall fundraising target of £6.6m had been reached. Earlier this year, a further £200,000 was granted by English Heritage to replace the large pulley wheel that is central to the raising and lowering of the passenger cars. The lift is scheduled to reopen to the public next year.
