Freedom Festival Arts Trust has announced that the city’s annual Freedom Festival will not take place outdoors in September as planned, but will instead go online.
This year’s festival will include a wide-ranging broadcast and online programme that can be enjoyed at home.
Mikey Martins, artistic director and joint chief executive of Freedom Festival Arts Trust, said: “While we’re deeply disappointed Freedom Festival 2020 will not be taking place in the streets and squares of Hull as it has done for the past 12 years, we’re excited to bring art and culture directly into people’s homes this September, through intimate, playful and thought-provoking experiences.
“We made the decision to move our festival for audiences to enjoy and experience online and via broadcast on the BBC because we recognise our role in the local and global fight against coronavirus and responsibility to protect our audiences, artists, team and city during what is an unprecedented time for us all.”
From Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September, Freedom Festival will continue to bring audiences together through a programme of regional, national and internationally renowned artists, including live music, spoken word and poetry, talks and interactive debates, digital installations and playful and artistic activities that can be experienced and enjoyed at home.
It comes after a two-year partnership was agreed between Freedom Festival Arts Trust and the BBC.
Martyn Weston, managing editor at BBC Radio Humberside, said: “The BBC in this region has been proudly involved with the Freedom Festival in recent years so we are delighted to be working together as a new broadcast partner. Although it will be a very different experience this year, we are looking forward to delivering events live on BBC Radio Humberside, via our website, as well as the BBC Sounds app.
“We are excited our unsigned music show BBC Music Introducing will be part of the festival for the first time and we are looking at ways we can showcase content made by people at home via our new BBC Upload programme.”
Find out more information about this year’s Freedom Festival here.
