Isle Of Wight Festival Exhibition ‘Experience 25’ Coming To Newport This Summer

Did you know that this year is the 25th Isle of Wight Festival?

Yes, it’s the 22nd Isle of Wight Festival since 2002 when John Giddings brought the famous event back to the Island, but there were three original Festivals in 1968, 1969 and 1970.

To celebrate this, the ‘Experience the Isle of Wight Festival’ exhibition is returning and this year will be renamed ‘Experience 25’, while encompassing the three original festivals.

The exhibition will be held at the Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council exhibition space at 64 High Street, Newport from June 3 to July 29.

Ray Foulk, who organised the 1968, 1969 and 1970 festivals alongside his brothers, will be including some of his iconic archive, featuring artists such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix.

Dimbola will be bringing the colourful exhibition that ran at Freshwater last summer, featuring the amazing artwork and artists from the past 22 years such as Amy Winehouse, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie, along with new pieces that will go public for the first time.

(c) Sienna Anderson, David Hurn, David Rutherford

This is the first time an exhibition to all of the Isle of Wight Festivals will be seen in one place:

Ray Foulk said:

“My family is delighted to contribute to this commemorative show with historic items and archives.

"It is with great pride our embryonic rock festivals of more than half a century ago have been so successfully and splendidly revived.

"In total, 22 years of visionary enterprise has guaranteed the Island’s formidable prowess in the wider world of contemporary music.”

John Giddings added:

“The iconic Isle of Wight festival 1970 was the Woodstock of Europe, but the IW Council in their wisdom decided to ban it for 32 years in the form of an act of parliament - allowing others to pick up the baton.

“They allowed us to restart it for the Queen’s jubilee, and it has gone from strength to strength, re-establishing this small island off the south coast of England as a worldwide brand.

“Here is a celebration of the last 21 years, with the original three years added by kind courtesy of Ray Foulk, without whom it, it would not exist - and this year makes it the 25th.”

There is no entrance fee to the exhibition, but there will be a shop to raise money for Dimbola, which will be selling Isle of Wight Festival t-shirts and posters – including a new vintage line in clothing.

There will also be the books Ray Foulk has written about the 1969 and 1970 festivals – Stealing Dylan from Woodstock and The Last Great Event.

Ray Foulk (L) and John Giddings (credit: Day Rutherford).

‘Experience 25’ is being staged at the exhibition venue of the Community Council for Newport and Carisbrooke at 64 High Street, Newport, with their kind permission.

It will be open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday but also over the Isle of Wight Festival weekend (Saturday June 22 and Sunday June 23) and some Saturdays.

Dimbola is run by a dedicated team of volunteers, who are inviting people to help out in the Experience 25 exhibition.

Any time would be gratefully received – a morning or afternoon every week, or a whole day or more where possible.

If you are interested in volunteering in the exhibition, please contact Jo at joxmacaulay@aol.com or on phone 07971107030.