‘What we’ve got going on here in Hull is quite incredible’: First digital Freedom Festival hailed a huge success

The first digital Freedom Festival has been hailed an overwhelming success, with Hull’s artistic community delivering a unique online programme to thousands of people across the world.

With Covid-19 restrictions preventing large outdoor events, Freedom went digital for the first time in its 13-year history over the weekend.

Audiences were able to experience powerful performances through the Freedom app and other online platforms, with organisers delighted by the response.

Mikey Martins, the festival’s artistic director and joint CEO, said: “We knew it wouldn’t be possible to replicate the feelings of our much-loved outdoor festival with an online programme, but we wanted to bring our artistic community and audiences together to enjoy art and culture and to mark the festival weekend.

“We’re overwhelmed with the response to the festival - the reaction has been fantastic.

“We’re absolutely delighted with how many people tuned in, took part and engaged with the festival.

“While we can’t wait to return to large-scale performances on the streets of Hull as soon as we can, this year, by trying something new, we’ve had a platform to showcase to people across the world what we’ve got going on here in Hull - and it really is something quite incredible.”

Further Freedom performances are now set to take place online throughout the year.