The Hull Vigil: Reserve your place on ‘chain of community, humanity and resilience’
VIGIL: Watching over Hull. Picture by Tom Arran Commercial Photography
People are invited to play their part in this year’s Freedom Festival by reserving a place on The Hull Vigil from Monday.
The vigil will feature a different individual keeping watch over the city from a bespoke wood and glass structure on top of Hull College each day at sunrise and sunset.
Over the course of a year, 730 people will take part in the collective silent performance, which commences on May 3.
Anyone interested in taking part will now be able to book their place from 10am on Monday, with allocation on a first come, first served basis.
Freedom Festival had planned to launch The Hull Vigil in March, but the third national lockdown delayed the build of the shelter and the recruitment of volunteers.
Mikey Martins, Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of Freedom Festival, said: “The Hull Vigil is an amazing artistic project which connects with and is delivered by the community.
“It will be built by Hull building firms for the people of Hull, with a narrative that will develop throughout the year.
“While each vigil stands alone, together they form a human chain of community, humanity and resilience - something even more significant today.
“The Hull Vigil is the perfect opportunity for us to spend some time to take stock of who and where we are and hope for a more positive future.”
Individuals will step inside the structure, without their phone or a camera, to watch over the city for an hour, looking out across the Humber to the east, the urban spread to the north and the suburbs and countryside to the west.
Each vigil will take place in the unique structure designed by Benjamin Tovo and built by Hull Esteem Consortium LEP Ltd.
Richard King, Chair of Esteem, said: “The Hull Vigil is a unique and exciting project for the city and one we were keen to get involved in.
“By offering our expertise and supporting the Freedom team in getting this project off the ground, we’re proud to be playing a part in bringing this international performance to the city at a time when people need a boost and something to look forward to.
“I’d also like to thank our partners and local contractors who have got behind the project by donating materials, equipment and time to construct the shelter and erect it on site. I can’t wait to see it finished and hear about the experiences of people who take part.”
Anthony Baker, Executive Director and Joint CEO of Freedom Festival, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to our partners at Arts Council England, Hull City Council, Hull College and Esteem for helping to make The Hull Vigil possible, alongside our creative partners Global Streets and In Situ as we work together again in this year-long participatory performance, which will showcase the beautiful choreography of our northern city as the sun rises and sets.”
Anyone aged over 18 is invited to participate, signing up via the Freedom Festival website, app, or direct at www.thehullvigil.co.uk from 10am on Monday, March 1.
Participants can choose their own date and time. Only one vigil can be booked per person.