Freedom Festival

We are an international gateway to exceptional artists and makers, combining epic to intimate moments in public spaces where artists and audiences meet.

Producers of Hull's Freedom Festival, an international arts festival, we believe artists can change the narrative. With a distinctive creative voice, we enrich our society, giving artistic expression to themes of democracy, identity, human rights and freedom.

We are proud to be one of Arts Council England's National Portfolio Organisations, regarded as a leader in the field of outdoor arts and are part of the artistic directorate of The Without Walls Network and one of only three UK partners of the Europe-wide IN SITU Network. We work in partnership because nothing great is achieved in isolation.

Core projects

Postcards from the Edge

Postcards from the Edge is a project exploring the concept of identity, place and the human quest for home.

Launching on National Writing Day in June, children and young people will be supported through a programme of work that encourages them to explore their own identity and the identity of this city, considering the wonderfully rich and diverse cultures that make up the communities within, for whom Hull is home.

In Situ

We are proud to be one of three UK representatives of the IN SITU network, collaborating with 23 other European programmers to nurture artist development and support artists to develop new forms of art in public space.

Established in 2003, we joined the network in 2016 and since then have been working to provide opportunities for innovative artist residency opportunities from Hull to worldwide locations like Sierra Leone.

Freedom Talks

Continuing the conversation beyond Freedom Festival, to mark the anniversary of the Modern Slavery Act we held a special Freedom Talk with award-winning Guardian journalist Annie Kelly.

In partnership with Hull University and the Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and Emancipation (WISE) the event saw Annie, editor of the Guardian’s Modern-day slavery in focus series, return to the city following her successful Freedom Talk as part of last year’s Freedom Festival.

What we're up to

12th April 2019

Become a 2019 Freedom Maker!

Want to help make Freedom Festival 2019 unforgettable? We're on the look out for Volunteers for this year's festival.

11th April 2019

Vote for Hull Sound Circles to win National Lottery Award

Remember The Clash of Drums (Danbor Talka) from Freedom Festival 2016? Hull Sound Circles helped support this project. You can help them win £50,000 to develop their work in Hull.

2nd April 2019

Accelerating ahead

Following its success last year, we’re once again looking to recruit three students from the University of Hull to take part in paid internships - from Festival Administration, Artist Liaison to Production - to help deliver Freedom Festival 2019.