Thousands flock to science and arts festival for unforgettable experience
VIBRANT CREATIVITY: Colliderfest in Hull city centre
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
A new-look festival designed to ignite passion in both science and the arts has been hailed an overwhelming success.
Colliderfest and Colliderfest After Dark attracted thousands of visitors to Hull city centre for an experience filled with captivating performances, engaging workshops and mesmerising night-time light and sound installations.
Organised by the University of Hull, Hull City Council and Hull Maritime, in partnership with Hull Culture and Leisure, the festival over Friday, March 14 and Sunday, March 16 aimed to demonstrate how science and art can complement each other.
During the day, Colliderfest showcased a mix of more than 80 events, including hands-on experiments, live shows and thought-provoking discussions led by industry professionals and world-renowned scientists.
Highlights included performances by award-winning presenter Maddie Moate and inspirational speaker Matthew Tosh.
Colliderfest After Dark was the night-time extension of Colliderfest, offering a unique blend of music, art and immersive experiences.
Designed to captivate and entertain, Colliderfest After Dark shined a light on buildings and historic landmarks like never before.
Kath Wynne-Hague, head of culture, place and city centre at Hull City Council, said: “Colliderfest and Colliderfest After Dark have truly showcased the vibrant spirit and creativity in our city.
“The festival has provided an incredible platform for innovation, arts and culture to come together, and it’s been wonderful to see so many people engaging and participating.
“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved, and look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come.
“Hull is fast becoming a hub for such extraordinary events, and we will keep striving to make each year better than the last.”
More than 800 primary school children and young people took part in the wider Colliderfest programme.
It saw young minds dive into a variety of interactive workshops, captivating science shows and imaginative dance performances.
Highlights of the festival for primary school children on Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14 included:
Interactive workshops: From hands-on experiments to fascinating demonstrations, children engaged with the wonders of science, technology, engineering arts and maths.
Performances: Renowned science communicators including CBeebie’s Maddie Moate and Braintastic! Science shared their inspirational enthusiasm through shows at Hull City Hall, inspiring the next generation of innovators and creators.
Collaborative projects: Children collaborated on a creative group dance project with Autin Dance that combined science and art, fostering teamwork and innovative thinking.
Kath added: “This festival has shown that when given the opportunity, children can achieve remarkable things and find joy in both science and the arts. We hope to make this an annual event, continuing to inspire and nurture the talents of Hull’s next generation.
“As the festival concluded, the impact on the children was palpable. Their smiles, laughter and newfound knowledge are a testament to the success of the event and its importance in fostering a love for learning.”