ArtBomb Festival 2025

Following successful festivals in 2021 and 2022 and a smaller scale forum in 2024, the August 15th–17th 2025 festival will form the core of ArtBomb’s year-round programme of pop-ups and workshops at its base. Our festival will provocatively explore topical issues, in a global context, kicking off a new residency program: Rethinking Migration, Arts and Homelessness and the Sonification of Data.

The festival presents world class art to spill onto the street and spread across public space, sparking discussion and curiosity through workshops, talks, performance, music, film and exhibitions. ArtBomb creative lead, Mike Stubbs, former CEO of the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, says:

“It's testimony to all the artists and supporters, that we have maintained an experimental and engaged arts program, with this injection of support from the Arts Council of England along with our partners, we can bring further opportunities for local creative producers and audiences, whilst developing a more sustainable model.”

Past ArtBomb festivals and residencies have been instrumental in shaping the careers of artists in Doncaster and further afield. Performance artist Miranda Whall took part in the 2022 festival, which attracted an impressive number of artists and visitors despite taking place on the hottest day of the year. Miranda comments:

“Taking part in ArtBomb 2022 was an unforgettable experience. It was the hottest day of the year, coinciding with the weekend of the races, which amplified the charged atmosphere on the streets of Doncaster. Participating in the festival allowed me to push my Crawling with Trees performative practice to new heights. I believe that mywork, alongside the other performances within the festival, challenged the public to engage with art in ways they would never have experienced otherwise”.

Mark Hutchinson, a Unitarian minister who helped develop the bid, said:

“This is a great opportunity to develop community activities and support from a central location for the whole of Doncaster with the new commission, Arts and Homelessness.”

Through the year ArtBombs shop front hosts artists’ residencies, workshops and pop-ups, including a monthly open mic night, Rhymes and Vibes, run by local poet Omole Eroje and street art workshops with the Squiggle Gang.

For the 2025 program we have already intense interest in exhibitions from such artists as Rosie Gibbens and Spelling Mistakes Cost Lives. A diverse mini music festival of local artists and a regional electronic music open mic night will also form part of the festival, hosted by Beats and Pieces. Local music promoters GSD said:

“GSD are excited to be aiding in the facilitation of this years Artbomb festival.  Our aim is to bring the crowd, experiment with new avenues, provoke thought, incite community engagement and expand the reach of local artists by creating an exciting and inclusive music programme consisting of both local and national talent”. 

ArtBomb’s approach is to foster local creative talent and emerging practitioners, alongside established international artists in collaboration with our partners which include: Don Catchment Rivers Trust, Instytut Polski, Doncaster FoodBank, Doncaster City Council, DCLT, Doncaster College, North East Yorkshire Data Ecological Centre, Yorkshire & Humber Visual Arts Network and Changing Lives.

Follow @artbombuk on instagram or facebook to find out about upcoming events and exhibitions as our plans develop.