Update from Freedom 

17 March 2020

Artists, partners, audiences, volunteers and friends of Freedom, you help to make our festival happen, helping us to create the unexpected. Sadly, this time we’re not behind the strange and unexpected situation that we find ourselves in.  

Freedom Festival is built on the pioneering spirit of William Wilberforce and in these unprecedented times of uncertainty around Coronavirus (COVID-19), we hope the festival will still be able to go ahead as planned on 4-6 September and at this stage we’re continuing with our work to make this happen.

We work in a wonderful industry, with artists, creatives and freelancers from across the world and we know that this is an incredibly difficult and worrying time for them.

We will continue to listen to the advice and instructions from the Department of Health and Public Health England and while we hope it doesn’t come to it, if the festival is advised not to go ahead, we will look at alternative plans to still bring hope and joy in the form of world-class art to the city, because we believe that art can enrich our society. 

We are a resourceful and sustainable non-profit organisation and are incredibly proud to be part of such an innovative and creative sector. 

In the spirit of the festival, we urge you to stay optimistic and continue to look after each other, your neighbours and people living in your communities.  For the current advice from the NHS click here.

Stay safe,

The Freedom Festival Arts Trust Team