Freedom Festival Hull

26/02/2025

Did you get to experience Freedom on Tour this year? 🌊

After its success in 2023, we brought it back and you loved it! 2,000 people turned out to watch T**a, Barriere and Tony & Ray take over Bridlington beachfront. Getting back incredible stats and feedback for Freedom on Tour helps to inform if we can continue it in the future!

It has been a wonderful way to bring a slice of the festival to the seaside, so that more people can enjoy the world-class arts and culture we have on offer.

Want to see more stats from 2024? Read our full Impact Report now, available to flick through on our website: https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/support-us/

26/02/2025

We can’t believe it's already been 6 months since our last festival.

Let’s take a look at some highlights from Freedom Festival 2024!

24/02/2025

One of our main focuses at the 2024 festival was children and young people, and CODE was a perfect performance to engage local young people in. Not only was it a piece of theatre, it was also used as a tool to help young people recognise the dangers of County Lines, knife crime and child exploitation.

It was an incredible feat to engage 1,000 young people in this project, and we were even able to engage with 2 young individuals at risk of child exploitation.

Want to find out more about the impact of our participation projects? Read our full 2024 Impact Report, available now on our website: https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/support-us/

22/02/2025

Our very own Phil and Kathryn had a great night at the Hull BID Awards last night, it was a lovely opportunity to support and celebrate so many incredible local businesses!

Thank you so much to for having us, and congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

21/02/2025

Want to find out more about our festival's impact? In 2024 we surveyed our audiences and 79% said they thought the festival gave them a sense of pride in Hull.

Freedom Festival has been a part of Hull's cultural offering for 18 years, and knowing our audiences are inspired by our events to feel pride for their city is one of the driving forces in wanting to deliver more incredible shows and performances for everyone to enjoy. Having such an impact on Hull is something Freedom Festival is proud of!

If you're interested in delving into more of our stats, read our full 2024 Impact Report, available now on our website: https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/support-us/

20/02/2025

We're so excited for the new exhibitions now open at Ferens Art Gallery, Sirens: Women and the Sea and Sirens: Out of the Blue, both on display until 5 May.

Women and the Sea features classic and contemporary artwork responding to the themes of seduction, suffrage, slavery, migration, gender fluidity and freedom that are so synonymous with the mythological sirens of the sea. You'll find works from Tate, Leeds Art Gallery the De Morgan Collection and more alongside Ferens' own collection, as well as 'siren songs' from Ferens Artist in Residence Maddie Morris.

Out of the Blue accompanies this exhibition, created by Future Ferens, a group of volunteer artists and creatives, and inspired by Herbert James Draper's Ulysses and the Sirens. Exploring artistic responses to the story of the Sirens, it delves into themes of gender, myth and depictions of the siren in recent history.

Be sure to and check out these amazing exhibitions and explore the rich stories surrounding the ancient mythology of the sirens. Find out more, and get details on their special talks and tours in the coming weeks: https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/homepage/220/sirens-women-and-the-sea

20/02/2025

Meet Ian, our Freedom Festival Producer.

A creative professional who is exceptionally passionate about supporting and developing artists and creative encounters!

Ian has worked in the arts sector in Yorkshire for over 20 years, taking on many roles from producing outdoor festivals and events to programming venues, intimate theatre projects, touring small-scale theatre, producing community theatre projects and performing, stage managing and leading creative workshops.

We love having Ian on the team. He is a big part of the team and has been with us since January 2024.

14/02/2025

🎤⚡️Six microphones and one electrifying musical score!⚡️🎤

Don’t miss Mary and the Hyenas at Hull Truck Theatre, co-produced with Pilot Theatre, this February!

Get ready to be transported through the life of literary pioneer and feminist icon Mary Wollstonecraft, a woman centuries ahead of her time: Raised in Beverley and known across the world. ✒️✨

Showing at Hull Truck Theatre until Sat 1 Mar. Book here now:

Six microphones and one electrifying musical score. Meet Mary and the Hyenas.

11/02/2025

Don’t miss a moment!

Find out all the latest news and information about Freedom Fest and what’s in store for 2025…

Sign up now: https://freedomfestival.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fce2835b24cd2fc864a570934&id=a2296813dd

06/02/2025

We had an incredible turnout for , and it was amazing to capture so many wonderful behind-the-scenes moments!

Check out some of the BTS highlights we captured from our participants.

If you’re feeling inspired to join in, we’ll be recruiting for new participants soon, stay tuned! In the meantime, learn more here: https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/opportunities/participation/

27/01/2025

You'll all recognise them in their iconic blue coats by now, but how do our HEY! Volunteers express themselves in their every day lives? At our 2024 festival, they donned their wardrobe to bring two memorable and thought-provoking performances of Zwermers' Pan ~// Catwalk. From early workshops to rehearsals, Zwermers worked with our volunteers on a performance that showcased themes important to them, challenged labels, and explored the power we have through what we wear.

Zwermers have also created an accompanying film with the volunteers which is now live on our website! Watch them as they transition from their bright uniform into pieces that mean something to each of them: https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/what-we-do/creative-participation/zwermers-pan-catwalk/

A huge thank you to Zwermers HEY Volunteering and Global Streets FESTIVAL.ORG

21/01/2025

Since it’s the new year, do you have any new year's resolutions to be more organised and efficient?

Well why not keep up to date with the important news and information regarding upcoming events and opportunities with us!

(We promise we only send the important fun information)

Subscribe now: https://freedomfestival.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fce2835b24cd2fc864a570934&id=a2296813dd

16/01/2025

Meet Katie Atkins, our very own local Hull lass with a passion for the city and people!

She has always had a passion for helping people in and around the Humber region, going from a secondary school teacher for 10 years to switching careers in 2017 beginning and developing her experience in the arts sector through freelancing for the City of Culture programme and becoming one of Hull's blue-coated volunteers. She’s worked on the Hull volunteer programme and has since taken on the role of Head of Volunteering in Leeds for LEEDS 2023, recruiting and deploying over 1000 volunteers to support its year of culture.

Freedom Festival is one of Katie’s biggest loves and she’ll be celebrating a year with the team this month!

Katie is a true asset to the team and we love having her as our Engagement Producer!

13/01/2025

Throughout Freedom Fest 2024 we had so many incredible performances, but to make this year even better we want to know who your favourite performance was!

Let us know down below, we’d love to hear from you.

13/01/2025

We’re celebrating Bradford 2025 officially ringing in their reign as UK City of Culture! Saturday night saw their incredible and powerful opening ceremony performance RISE take to City Park for a second evening, with thousands braving the cold weather for a spectacular show including local poets, dancers, musicians, and Bradford’s own Steven Frayne - Dynamo! Congratulations to the team on two amazing performances!

Head on over to their Instagram to find out what’s on in their year as City of Culture, and see what the city of Bradford has to offer! 

10/01/2025

Let’s take a look at all our best bits of Freedom Fest throughout the years.

Explore our galleries throughout the years: https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/what-we-do/festivals-projects/freedom-festival/

Don’t forget to also tag and send us your images from your festival experience, we’d love to see them!

08/01/2025

Meet Holly, our Administration Manager & Digital Content Coordinator.

As both administration manager and content coordinator, Holly manages a bit of everything! Managing the office, supporting finance and HR and coordinates all of our digital communications including everything from social media to our monthly newsletters.

Once Holly completed her degree in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Hull, she began her career on Hull City Council’s Events Team. She has supported the delivery of so many events around the Humber region, from Spencer Tunick’s Sea of Hull and Gratte Ciel’s Place Des Anges, to the annual Christmas Lights Switch on and Hull Fair!

Holly is a huge asset to our team and since joining in 2021 we have loved watching her develop and expand new skills and creativity in the arts sector.

06/01/2025

Hello 2025!

We are back in the office and already busy planning for .

Will you be attending this year? We already know it is going to be the BEST one yet!

Find out more today: https://www.freedomfestival.co.uk/