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 Second World War and the meaning of freedom, then and now.

Simon Armitage’s role as Poet Laureate and his ability to speak to both personal and collective memory make him uniquely placed to shape the emotional and reflective heart of this project. His commissioned poem, Freedom Road, will act as both stimulus and centrepiece, sparking exploration of what freedom has meant across generations and how it is felt and understood today, and helping to guide creative responses developed by local or interest-based community groups as part of the project.

Whether encountered in an arts centre, a local library, a gallery, through a leaflet, or online, this new work is an invitation to pause and reflect – on freedom won, freedom shared, and freedom still being fought for. For some, it may bring memories, or for others, questions. For all, we hope, it will spark a deeper awareness of our place in the ongoing story of freedom.

Annabel Turpin and Gavin Barlow, Co-Directors of Future Arts Centres, expressed excitement about the selection, saying, “We believe Freedom Road will be a powerful catalyst for reflection across generations, inviting readers to question their place in history and in today’s world. We’re thrilled it will be shared in diverse spaces that encourage meaningful dialogue.”

The public unveiling of the poem will take place with a special live reading by Simon Armitage at the programme launch at Contact (Manchester) this June. Stay connected for more details, and for more news from Our Freedom as the project unfolds.