‘Extraordinary art’ on show as Freedom Festival gets under way

THE SOUND OF THE CITY: A member of string band The Dyr Sister in one of the performances featuring at this year’s Freedom Festival. Picture by Tom Arran

Hull’s award-winning Freedom Festival returns on Friday in a new online and broadcast format in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Though acknowledging it will not replicate the “exhilaration of our live festival”, organisers say it will still bring “extraordinary art and culture” to the city, and potentially a global audience.

People can already get involved from today by submitting a “selfie” to see if it is selected to be drawn by robots - on an empty Hull Truck Theatre stage - as part of the A Portrait Without Borders project by internationally renowned artists Kaleider.

All audiences have to do to enjoy this year’s programme is download the festival app, visit the festival website, and tune into the BBC to watch, listen live, stream, and play events - with some going live on the app from noon on Friday.

It will be the first time in the festival’s 13-year history the streets will not be filled with people enjoying it in person.

Mikey Martins, artistic director and joint chief executive of Freedom Festival Arts Trust, said: “While this year’s festival looks different and will certainly be an alternative experience to what we’re used to with Freedom, we’re excited to still be bringing extraordinary art and culture celebrating local and international talent direct to peoples’ homes.

“We know it’s not the same as experiencing the exhilaration of our live festival; that can’t be replicated online, but there are certainly a few perks to an online festival - no time-slot clashes, no queues, and you can take an interval any time you like.

“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 and we’re extremely proud of our team and the partners and artists who’ve taken on the challenge to help us create a timely and engaging programme during lockdown.

“We know for some going online can feel a bit scary, so we’ve tried to make it as simple as possible. Much like our live festival, we’ve tried to create something for everyone and there are lots of ways to get involved. Once content becomes available it’ll be there on our website and app for you to watch over the whole weekend.”

SUBMIT YOUR ‘SELFIE’: The A Portrait Without Borders project by Kaleider

In a collaboration by Lucas De Man and Company New Heroes, Hopes and Fears Across the Water will premiere at 6pm on Friday. Presented in touching and inspiring online sessions, spoken word performers from the UK and the Netherlands collaborate around the urgent themes of privacy and surveillance, division and isolationism, and the climate emergency, in a post-Covid-19 world.

From 7pm on Friday, BBC Radio Four’s Front Row will present a Freedom Talks Special, exploring whether art and creativity has to be socially or politically charged to be seen as great art.

Later, over on BBC Radio Humberside, a Freedom Festival Special will feature exclusive content from some of Hull’s best unsigned acts, and allow listeners to relive Freedom Festival highlights.

Circus legends Les 7 Doigts will be joining the festival virtually, all the way from Canada.

Throughout the weekend surprises are in store for some of the city’s young people, organisers say, as Luke Jerram’s sound-illuminated artwork Lullaby is delivered at dusk to streets in the city in partnership with Back To Ours. There will also be bedtime stories to remember, delivered by Mr Martins, Peter Levy and Kofi Smiles. 

Exclusive DJ sets are being provided by The Broken Orchestra, Superhallo, Alex Figueira, Superhallo, Pax Nindi, Make Noise and Matt Burr. Festival favourites the Freedom Chorus will deliver a virtual performance, while Hull-based artists Downtown Kayoto, Emma Fee, and Chiedu Oraku also feature.

The festival runs until Sunday, September 6. For the full programme and more, visit www.freedomfestival.co.uk.

Anthony Baker, executive director and joint CEO of Freedom Festival, said: “We’re really proud to have curated a programme that responds to current issues. As you’d expect from Freedom, it’s multi-layered, surprising and experimental as this year we can play with new artforms. We’re excited to try something new and delighted to have the support of the BBC as our official media partner.

“We’re incredibly thankful to Hull City Council, Arts Council England and all our local sponsors and partners for their continued support, as each of our partners has been facing their own individual challenges. We’re grateful they continue to recognise the place arts and culture has in enriching society alongside supporting economic growth.”