The famous Folkestone Banksy artwork is on display in the town once again...following its brief trip to America and a five-year stint in storage.

Art Buff - which shows a woman wearing headphones and an audio tour peering over an empty plinth - was installed in the Old High Street earlier today.

It comes six years after the work first appeared in the town as part of the 2014 Triennial arts festival, having been painted on the side of Palace Amusements arcade in Payers Park, owned by the Godden family.

At the time, the renowned anonymous street artist stated the work was "part of the Folkestone triennial. Kind of".

It was subjected to graffiti and only six weeks later it was carefully removed and sent to America , where it went on auction in Miami, with any proceeds planned to go to a charity set up in aid of Jimmy Godden who died in March 2012.

But after it failed to sell, a legal campaign followed and saw it reclaimed by the Creative Foundation, now Creative Folkestone.

It was returned to Folkestone in 2015 and placed in storage.

Over the last five years, the arts organisation has been questioned over when the work would return to public display, with 2018 being suggested as a possible reveal date.

But today the valuable work is on show once again, in the heart of the town's Creative Quarter.

Its return also inspired and coincides with the launch of a new communal art project, titled The Plint h.

As part of the project, 10 vacant plinths have been placed in unique and outdoor locations across Folkestone.

People are invited to use them to display their lock down creations, special mementos or hidden talents as part of a celebration of one towns creativity.

Additionally a performance plinth has been painted on the floor of Payers Park by street artist Toze One, and there are also three specially commissioned plinths with works by local artists Malcolm Allen, Maureen Jordan and Tomas Poblete.

The performance plinth will host a curated programme of music, dance, spoken word and more.

The new project shows how the town has adapted since the outbreak of Covid-19, with the 2020 triennial being postponed until next year.

Alastair Upton, chief executive of Creative Folkestone said: "Folkestone is creative.

"The people of this town never cease to inspire me and the work that we do here at Creative Folkestone.

"By returning the Banksy to the Creative Quarter and presenting The Plinth we hope that we can inspire others to get creative this autumn.

"After everything that has happened this year we are proud to be offering space for people to get creative once again.

"Folkestone loved the Banksy, with the woman pondering the empty plinth.

"I can’t wait to see what people place there for her and everyone else to see."

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