By Freedom from Home Festival comes to Hull
Hull’s annual Freedom Festival will bring a flavour of its international arts festival direct to homes this September.
The festival will be broadcast digitally and via the BBC.
An app has also been launched, making it easier for people to view the programme, save performances to their schedule, tune in live, listen to podcasts and join debates.
Alongside Doncaster Pride, it is one of several festivals and celebrations which will be become virtual this year due to the pandemic.
Freedom Festival From Home’s diverse programme will feature selfies being drawn by robots, sound installations delivered straight into the city’s streets and performances from artists in familiar Hull surroundings broadcast online and over the airwaves.
Hull City Council is a major funding partner of Freedom Festival.
Mikey Martins, artistic director and joint chief executive of Freedom Festival Arts Trust, said:
“In these unprecedented times we’re excited to bring extraordinary art and culture celebrating local and international talent direct to peoples’ homes this September, through intimate, playful and thought-provoking experiences and a much-needed celebration of humanity.
“We take pride in the many ways we connect with communities, our internationalism and our ability to respond to what’s happening in the world.
“With notions of freedom re-examined the programme explores the recent challenges we’ve faced and the reality of a post-COVID-19 future.”
Freedom Festival from Home is one of three events that Freedom Festival Arts Trust has planned for the next 12 months.
Mikey continued:
“While we’re deeply disappointed Freedom Festival 2020 won’t take place in the streets and squares of Hull as it’s done for the past 12 years, we recognise our role in the local and global fight against coronavirus and our responsibility to protect our audiences, artists, team and city.”
The festival will take place between Friday 4 and Sunday 6 September.
Anthony Baker, executive director and joint CEO of Freedom Festival, said:
“We’re incredibly thankful to Hull City Council, Arts Council England and all our local sponsors and partners for their continued support.
“Despite these challenging circumstances, we’re creative producers who believe art can enrich our society, support economic growth and provide people with entertainment.
“By hosting a festival we’re not only supporting the artistic community locally, nationally and internationally, we’re spreading the work of Freedom Festival even further as this year audiences across the world can tune in to our festival to see what Hull has to say!”
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