News And Updates

March 6, 2025

We’re recruiting for an Executive Director

December 23, 2024

Watch our Participation Film!

December 21, 2024

2024 Film now live

August 1, 2024

Our New Festival Director

We are delighted to announce that Phil Hargreaves will be joining us in September as our new Festival Director.

July 18, 2024

KCOM backs Freedom Festival 2024 as major sponsor

KCOM has been announced as a major sponsor for Hull’s biggest annual cultural celebration; Freedom Festival.

June 19, 2024

Early Childhood Experiences

Book Now

June 10, 2024

Andrew Jackson announced as major sponsor

Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence and Community Engagement

May 20, 2024

Circa – Eternity

Starting with a bang, tickets are now on sale for our most anticipated event of the festival – Eternity by Circa.

March 19, 2024

The Big Give

We’re taking part in the Big Give campaign, Arts for Impact, from 19th to 26th March, and we need your support more than ever.

February 29, 2024

Reflections on Tomorrow

Lee Karen Stow reflects on the successful Tomorrow Exhibition from Freedom Festival 2023, featuring beautiful artwork from the Freedom Women Collective.

February 1, 2024

Meet Katie!

We’ve welcomed a new Engagement Producer to our team!

January 24, 2024

Fair Winds & Following Seas – A New Commission with The Broken Orchestra

Commissioned by Freedom Festival Arts Trust and Hull Maritime with support from Arts Council England and In Situ, The Broken Orchestra presents ‘Fair Winds & Following Seas’.

January 16, 2024

Bidding Farewell to our CEO

After nine years of transformative leadership, Mikey Martins, the CEO and Artistic Director of Freedom Festival Arts Trust, is set to embark on a new chapter.

January 10, 2024

Meet Ian!

Welcome to our new Producer!

November 15, 2023

Beautiful Bones Case Study

Read about our biggest participation project of Freedom Festival 2023 and delve into the process of how we recruited our amazing participants to be everything from dogs to trombone players!

August 28, 2023

Freedom Talks – The Art of Change by Freedom Festival

Embarking on a journey of creative exploration and empowerment – Freedom Talks at Freedom Festival Hull.

June 29, 2023

Our 2023 Pride Reflections

We have taken the month of Pride Celebrations to reflect on how we can create a more inclusive environment

June 9, 2023

Associate Artist The Herd commissioned by the Southbank Centre

Part installation, part adventure playground, REPLAY is a space built entirely out of waste materials, repurposed for fun by The Herd Theatre.

May 18, 2023

Pat & Carl’s Trip to Kosovo

Hear all about Broken Orchestra artists Pat & Carl’s experience away on an emerging artist opportunity with InSitu in Kosovo and learn what they learnt!

May 11, 2023

Freedom Festival Arts Trust announced as a partner for Imperial War Museums’ art commissioning programme

Today, IWM has revealed details of the nine new partners, including Freedom Festival Arts Trust, selected to join this ambitious art commissioning programme, building on over 100 years of contemporary art commissioning by the museum.

May 9, 2023

Freedom Festival Exploring in the US

Our Senior Producer reflects on her recent experience on a INSITU staff exchange to Vermont.

April 27, 2023

Performance Opportunity @ Freedom Festival 2023!

We have an exciting opportunity for theatre and dance performers in the city.

April 27, 2023

Meet Kathryn!

Welcome to our new Business Development Manager

April 12, 2023

Sirens Re-Presented at Ferens

Liminal Creative brings back their thought-provoking installation featuring the voices of survivors of human trafficking.

March 24, 2023

Making music at Ings Primary

On the Spring Equinox, over in East Hull, there was one final Awakening event to look forward to.

March 9, 2023

#FreedomFox Workshops

Hear from Beth, our Participation and Engagement Producer, about the #FreedomFox workshops

March 7, 2023

Hack-Poets Guild – Themes from the Broadsides

Learn more about the inspiration behind the songs on their latest album and upcoming tour date in Hull.

January 17, 2023

Meet Beth!

Our new Participation and Engagement Producer – Beth!

November 21, 2022

Hack-Poets Guild @ Social

For one night only in Hull – tickets now available

November 10, 2022

Re:Launch Re:Score

On Tech Expo Humber week, we’re shining a spotlight on our associate artists Broken Orchestra who have developed multiple works which mix tech and arts into one.

November 4, 2022

Another Three Years of Arts Council Support

We are delighted to announce that we have retained our Arts Council NPO status.

September 3, 2022

In Conversation with Stew Baxter

Ahead of LIFE’s Pop Pizza Party on Saturday night, Lucy talked to Stew Baxter about his installation RESONANCE, his lockdown experience, and his creative process.

September 1, 2022

A Laugh-Out-Loud, Beautiful Celebration of Life: All The Sex I’ve Ever Had has All the Sex Stories You’ve Ever Wanted

Get ready to howl with laughter, shed a few tears, and be inspired, because All The Sex is a triumph!

August 31, 2022

At The Forefront of the Revolution: Joanna Dudley’s WE WILL SLAM YOU WITH OUR WINGS is Inspiring Females Everywhere

Lucy talks to artist Joanna Dudley about her installation WE WILL SLAM YOU WITH OUR WINGS and life in the arts industry as a female.

August 29, 2022

Off to a Terrific Start: Freedom Festival 2022’s Opening Weekend was Packed with Monumental Moments!

What a good place to be! Last Friday saw the city’s Freedom Festival festivities commence, and as the sun flooded Hull’s streets with its glorious rays, so did eager visitors to the festival. Lucy takes us through the events of the first weekend of Hull’s acclaimed annual arts festival, as she met with some of the most pivotal artists of the festival season…

August 26, 2022

Experience Freedom Festival Straight From Your Inbox!

Introducing the newsletter to readers, and this year’s festival journalist, Lucy Tessier.

March 22, 2022

Thank you for coming to The Awakening

We were thrilled to see thousands of people and particularly so many families back on the streets of Hull enjoying The Awakening this weekend.

February 10, 2022

Welcome to The Awakening – a new event for Hull

Celebrating the movement from Winter to Spring, we welcome everyone to join us back in the City Centre on the streets and in our venues to experience a magical and entertaining experience as you explore the City Centre and Old Town into the evening.

January 17, 2022

Callout for Artists / Create_Space Research Project February 2022

Create_Space is a virtual collaboration prototype tool for creating, developing, and presenting multidisciplinary site-specific public art. We are looking for artists interested in testing this tool while working on an imagined brief in collaboration with another artist. You will need to be available in February 2022 to take part in the research project.

December 2, 2021

Project Manager applications close on 8 December

Freedom Festival is looking for a Project Manager to lead on key projects within Freedom Festival Arts Trust’s year-round programme.

November 3, 2021

The Hull Vigil reaches the 6 month mark

Today ( Wednesday 3 November,) at sunset The Hull Vigil reaches the half-way point. Starting on 3 May 2021 and finishing on 3 May 2022, every day at sunrise and sunset a vigil keeps watch over Hull from a bespoke structure located on top of the Hull College building.

October 19, 2021

For Jack Whileblood

It was with huge sadness that we heard of the passing of Jack Whileblood, a core member of Freedom Festival’s volunteer workforce and a huge character.

July 31, 2021

Freedom Festival announces full 2021 programme

Today we are thrilled to bring you our full programme which runs from Friday 20 August to Sunday 5 September.

June 17, 2021

Freedom Festival returns to Hull from 20 August – 5 September 2021

Today we are delighted to confirm our dates for 2021 and announce the first wave of events.

May 2, 2021

Keeping watch over the city: 365-day Vigil begins in Hull

At 7.30pm tomorrow a 365-day Vigil will begin in Hull as the sun sets and a Vigil keeps a silent watch over the city from inside a glass and wooden shelter located on the rooftop of Hull College.

April 21, 2021

The Hull Vigil. Built by the city for the city

Hull Esteem and its partners have joined forces with Freedom Festival to bring The Hull Vigil to life through generous donations of time, expertise and resources.

April 19, 2021

Freedom and Ron Dearing unite again in exciting partnership

This year, Ron Dearing UTC students are playing their biggest part yet in Freedom Festival.

March 3, 2021

White Rabbit, Red Rabbit

Freedom Festival and Hull Truck Theatre bring internationally renowned play White Rabbit, Red Rabbit to Hull as part of a global theatre experience.

March 2, 2021

Hull you’re amazing!

At 10am on 1 March 2021, we opened the bookings for The Hull Vigil and in seven hours and seven minutes all of the 730 places had been reserved.

February 25, 2021

The city that keeps watch over itself

Will you be taking part in The Hull Vigil? Bookings go live on Monday 1 March at 10am.

February 18, 2021

Communication Manager Job Pack

Looking for your next communication’s role? We’re looking for an outstanding Communication Manager to join our team, is that you?

February 17, 2021

Where there is light

Over the past year it’s sometimes been hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, which is why Freedom Festival, Hull’s award-winning arts festival, has been working with Welcome to English and people seeking refuge in Hull as part of a national project called Where There is Light.

February 10, 2021

Freedom Festival 2021

Freedom Festival will be back in 2021. It is too early to say when this will be possible but we expect to deliver a festival of great art and performance later this year.

January 6, 2021

Job Vacancy: Got an awesome track record in communications?

Are you an outstanding communicator with an awesome track record? If so we want to hear from you.

December 9, 2020

Performances to bring hope and optimism in 2021

Proving we’re more than a weekend, in 2021 we’re presenting two internationally renowned performances prior to our annual September festival, with an uplifting spring programme starting in March.

November 26, 2020

Digital Democracies: Call Out for Immersive Audio Artworks

Pioneering public art project invites applications for work that respond to the theme of Connections.

November 24, 2020

Freedom Festival 2020: How we brought the festival to your home

Over four days in September, an audience of 465,000* people across the world experienced Hull’s award-winning international Freedom Festival from afar.

November 12, 2020

Appointment of new Executive Director

We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Anthony Baker as our new Executive Director and Joint CEO.

November 8, 2020

Visits and residencies as we embark on new projects for 2020

An exciting time for Freedom Festival Arts Trust – find out what we’ve been up to.

October 15, 2020

BOUND Show streams on World Anti Slavery Day

Sunday 18 October marks World Anti Slavery Day. A time to remember the victims.

September 24, 2020

Catch iconic performances again!

Tune into BBC Sounds to listen again to the BBC Introducing performances as part of Freedom Festival 2020.

September 10, 2020

Back to School Dance

They’re so good, we’ve left our Freedom DJ sets live for you to enjoy a back to school boogie.

September 7, 2020

Portrait brings audience together as thousands enjoy virtual festival

This weekend, thousands of audience members across the world experienced Freedom Festival from afar.

September 6, 2020

Time for a lullaby

Freedom Festival brings an element of surprise and wonder direct to people’s homes

September 4, 2020

Young designers celebrate their Freedom Champions

Young people from across the UK have worked with Hull design business Creative Briefs to celebrate ‘Freedom Champions’ ahead of this weekend’s Freedom Festival.

September 1, 2020

Submit your selfie for Hull’s portrait without borders

It’s time to submit your selfie to be drawn by wall-drawing robots!

September 1, 2020

Back to Freedom!

This weekend, grab a front row seat to Freedom Festival from anywhere in the world.

August 27, 2020

Y20 Call Out

What would you say if your ideas could change the world?

August 18, 2020

Freedom to go digital all year round!

Did you hear that we’ve got an app? Smart tech specialist Sauce has helped us create an interactive, year-round digital experience. Available now on Apple and Andriod.

August 12, 2020

UK art festivals join to create Digital Democracies

In a time of unprecedented reliance on digital technology to connect people, we’re proud to be part of a pioneering two-year national public art project called Digital Democracies.

August 5, 2020

Something to Breathe

Three generations of Hiroshima women reflect on the 75th Anniversary. Part of the #SomethingToBreathe project by Hull documentary photographer Lee Karen Stow.

August 4, 2020

Freedom Festival at Home 2020

Get ready for intimate moments when artists and audiences can meet. Come explore the programme for Freedom Festival at Home 2020.

July 31, 2020

Double White Rose Finalist

This year we’ve been shortlisted as a finalist in two categories in the White Rose Welcome to Yorkshire Awards.

July 10, 2020

Want to be part of The Reset Lab?

Aged 11 – 16 and passionate about making change in the world, come be part of The Reset Lab. We’re joining forces with our friends at Hull Libraries and The Big Malarkey Festival for our Freedom Festival from Home celebrations.

June 11, 2020

Freedom’s European journey continues into even more uncommon places

Bringing together 19 partners and 12 associate partners from 21 countries across Europe and beyond, Freedom Festival is continuing its European journey as a member of the IN SITU network.

May 18, 2020

Freedom at Home – Festival goes digital for 2020

Freedom Festival will not take place outdoors in September as planned, but with an exciting, wide-ranging broadcast and online programme which can be enjoyed at home.

May 14, 2020

From Hull to New York

From an attic in West Hull to an apartment in New York, this week Mikey Martins, took part in a panel discussion with CircusTalk – the leading online professional network and resource for the international circus arts.

April 21, 2020

Freedom at Home

Come check our culture curriculum as we help to keep you creative and inspired while at home.

April 20, 2020

Freedom Festival is still here!

Freedom Festival is still here and the team are continuing to work extremely hard as we prepare to deliver high quality, entertaining and exceptional artistic activity when we are able to do so.

March 30, 2020

Online course now open!

Looking to keep busy while learning new skills? FA-AIR have reopened their online course ‘Create in Public Space’. The first online course dedicated to creation in public space.

March 25, 2020

Fair Winds at Home

As we face these unusual times, spend an hour of your day in a safe environment with nothing but your imagination: let us take your mind on a journey from the safety of your armchair…

March 17, 2020

Update from Freedom

Freedom Festival is built on the pioneering spirit of William Wilberforce and in these unprecedented times of uncertainty around Coronavirus we hope the festival will still be able to go ahead as planned.

March 11, 2020

UPDATED INFO Participation Opportunity at Freedom Festival 2020!

Sadly, as you may already have guessed, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this meeting in line with governmental advice, in order to protect the health and welfare of our fantastic participants, volunteers, artists and team.

January 31, 2020

REYTA Shortlisting

We’ve been shortlisted in the annual Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Award in the ‘Remarkable Tourism Event’ category.

November 26, 2019

Silver Award for Arts and Culture!

What a great night we had celebrating the city of Hull at the Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards where we scooped the Silver Award for Arts and Culture.

November 8, 2019

Young voices of Freedom

We’re continuing to give a voice to the city’s young people with new projects for 2020!

November 2, 2019

Thank you for joining us for Freedom Festival 2019

Fuelled by hope and humanity, Hull city centre came alive over five days and nights

August 29, 2019

Hull College and Cranswick Plc team up to feed the festival

Hull College Catering Students Team up with Cranswick Plc to feed artists and audiences at Freedom Festival!

August 28, 2019

The stage is set!

The stage is set – it’s time for Freedom Festival 2019 to take over Hull city centre with a powerhouse programme

August 27, 2019

Freedom Festival hosts professional programme

In partnership with the British Council, Hull Truck Theatre and in collaboration with XTRAX we’re proud to host a four day programme for industry professionals.

August 27, 2019

Are you ready for Freedom Festival 2019?

Here’s our pick of this year’s unmissable shows.

August 26, 2019

Young people take centre stage at Freedom

Young people will take centre stage at this year’s Freedom Festival.

August 23, 2019

Meet our Accelerate Interns

Meet the University of Hull students who are helping to deliver Freedom Festival.

August 21, 2019

Loving in Absence Workshops

As part of our Ages of Isolation project, we’re working with CHCP Foundation to deliver two creative workshops for older people at the Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre.

August 20, 2019

Celebrating 40 years of Hull’s relationship with Freetown

This year’s Freedom Festival celebrates the 40th anniversary of the civic relationship between Freetown in Sierra

August 19, 2019

What does it mean to be free?

Local law firm Rollits is once again proud to be supporting Freedom Festival, by bringing ON EDGE by Justice in Motion to the city.

August 16, 2019

Jenny Howard-Coombes to step down as Executive Director after this year’s festival

After seven years she is taking up a new role at the National Trust for Scotland.

August 15, 2019

Ages of Isolation

Exploring issues of modern day loneliness through art

August 14, 2019

Hull International Carnival Workshops

The Hull International Carnival Centre is now open, come take part in workshops, and learn new skills from drumming, costume making to dance.

August 9, 2019

Maritime project supports new commission

Tickets are now available to book for this exciting and emotional audio walking experience along the River Hull.

August 8, 2019

Students train as reporters to tell Freedom Festival story

Students from Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) are preparing to tell the story of Freedom Festival.

August 5, 2019

Rollits proud to be a friend of Freedom Festival

“We have always seen our business as being part of and fully committed to the community in which we work”

July 22, 2019

Festival Programmes hot off the press

An illustration by local artist Emily Welham has been commissioned by Freedom Festival Arts Trust for this year’s programme.

July 17, 2019

Listen to the sound of Hull

If you missed the live performance in Hull and London, listen to AMBHAS on the BBC iplayer.

July 4, 2019

Young musicians from Hull to perform in London this weekend

This weekend, brand new music about Hull will be heard across the River Thames.

June 25, 2019

Exploring the human quest for home

Young people will take centre stage at this year’s Freedom Festival as they participate in Postcards from the Edge.

June 20, 2019

We’re a finalist in the White Rose Awards!

Freedom Festival is proud to be a finalist in the arts and culture category.

June 19, 2019

Freedom Festival Needs You!

We are looking for volunteers to participate in Bivouac – an extraordinary performance taking place on the streets of Hull on Freedom Friday!

June 15, 2019

Accolade for Freedom Chair

Chair of Freedom Festival Arts Trust is made an Honorary Burgess by Hull City Council

June 11, 2019

Everyone Back to Ours for Freedom Festival

Roll up and step into the circus ring, as Freedom Festival Arts Trust teams up with Back to Ours to bring a world-class circus programme to Hull.

June 10, 2019

Why RSM is proud to support Freedom Festival

“A festival for good, that’s powered by talented people.”

June 6, 2019

Amplifying the voice of young people in exciting new partnership

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) for 2019 and 2020.

June 3, 2019

A Celebration of Humanity, Powered by People

HULL is no stranger to arts and culture and this summer, the annual Freedom Festival will use the city as its stage once again, in a way it has never done before.

May 21, 2019

Rehearsals begin with young musicians

Working with J-Night, rehearsals have begun at Hull Music Hub as 28 young musicians are given the opportunity to play alongside professional players.

May 7, 2019

Get ready for five days of Freedom!

Freedom Festival, an established fixture on the national and international cultural calendar, returns for its 12th year in 2019 with an extended and audacious arts programme spanning five days.

May 7, 2019

“Roll up at the double for Festival Fun” Yorkshire Post

Roll up at the double for festival fun reports Alex Wood from the Yorkshire Post.

April 12, 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.

April 11, 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.

April 2, 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.

April 1, 2019

Congregation: Research and Development

Through our work with Without Walls, we’re proud to be supporting the research and development phase of Congregation a project by Ray Lee with software and hardware development by Steve Symons, for presentation at this year’s Freedom Festival.

March 29, 2019

Become a Trustee of Freedom!

Are you passionate about the arts? Do you share our vision and understand the role that cultural events and creative experiences play in contributing towards social, cultural and economic regeneration? We are looking to appoint new members to our Board, to ensure the continued success of Freedom Festival and to assist us in developing a sustainable year-round programme of work which reflects the Trust’s core aims, values and vision. The deadline to put in an expression of interest is midday on 8 April.

February 25, 2019

18 new outdoor shows commissioned as part of Without Walls partnership

We’re proud to be a commissioning partner of Without Walls, a network of festivals that brings fantastic outdoor arts to audiences across the UK.

January 21, 2019

New music commissioned as part of PRS Foundation’s New Music Biennial 2019

This July, brand new music about Hull will be heard across the Humber as PRS Foundation’s New Music Biennial returns to the city and London’s Southbank Centre with a festival celebrating the breadth and talent of new music in the UK.