On Wednesday 25 March, contributors from across the UK came together at the Southbank Centre to celebrate the launch of the Our Freedom: Then and Now exhibition. Community participants, artists, photographers and venue teams from across the programme attended the event, making it a warm, celebratory moment that brought the national project together under one … Continued
The Our Freedom programme has continued to spark national interest, with two major arts publications – Arts Professional and Aesthetica Magazine – recently exploring the project’s themes, impact and creative approach. Together, these pieces highlight the breadth of the programme’s reach across the UK and the growing conversation around what freedom means today. Exploring Everyday … Continued
Following its premiere at London’s Southbank Centre, the major national photography exhibition Our Freedom: Then and Now will tour to 18 arts centres and libraries across the UK from March to October 2026, with a full online version launching on 18 March. Marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, the exhibition … Continued
A major photography exhibition marking the culmination of the national Our Freedom: Then and Now programme, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, will open at the Southbank Centre on Wednesday 25 March 2026. The exhibition brings together images from 60 locally led projects spanning towns, cities and rural communities across … Continued
As the UK commemorates 80 years since the end of the Second World War, communities across the country are reflecting on what freedom means today. Our Freedom: Then and Now, the nationwide creative programme led by Future Arts Centres, is bringing together 60 arts centres and libraries to explore freedom through art, performance, and storytelling. … Continued
We are delighted to announce Our Freedom: Then and Now will culminate in a national photography exhibition launching in early 2026 and inviting audiences to see their own freedoms reflected in others. Delivered in partnership with Open Eye Gallery, the exhibition will spotlight the powerful stories emerging from the Our Freedom programme, captured through the … Continued
Future Arts Centres was delighted to welcome Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth to two member venues this week as part of a visit to see the impact of Our Freedom: Then and Now. The Minister visited Barnsley Civic and The Old Fire Station in Oxford, both active contributors to … Continued
We’re pleased to officially introduce three fantastic organisations who are partnering with Future Arts Centres to help bring powerful community stories to life across the UK as part of the Our Freedom: Then and Now programme: Libraries Connected, Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool as part of the Socially Engaged Photography Network (SEPN), and Milk & Honey PR. … Continued
We were delighted to bring the full Our Freedom: Then and Now team together for the first time at our recent programme launch in Manchester. Bringing together key delivery partners from across the country – from Northumberland to Bristol, Liverpool to Cockermouth – the team gathered to kick off what promises to be a powerful … Continued
We were delighted to be at Contact in Manchester on Wednesday 4 June to launch Our Freedom: Then and Now, part of a £2million national creative programme marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Supported by UK Government through Arts Council England, the initiative will see 60 arts centres and … Continued
We are excited to announce that Simon Armitage, the UK Poet Laureate, has been commissioned by Future Arts Centres to write a new poem as the centrepiece of the Our Freedom: Then and Now project – a nationwide creative programme inviting communities of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences to reflect on the legacy of the … Continued
Future Arts Centres announces Cluster Coordinators for Our Freedom: Then and Now Future Arts Centres, in partnership with Libraries Connected, has announced the appointment of six Cluster Coordinators who will play a vital role in supporting Our Freedom: Then and Now, a landmark national programme of creative community projects marking the 80th anniversaries of VE … Continued
Future Arts Centres is delighted to be leading Our Freedom: Then and Now, a new programme of community-based events in arts centres and libraries, to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This memorable programme will give communities a unique opportunity to reflect on the end of the Second World … Continued