Scunthorpe Central Library and 20-21 Visual Arts Centre marked Our Freedom with a programme that invited local people to explore the town’s wartime history and reflect on how ideas of freedom have changed over the past 80 years. Through film, hands‑on activities and a community exhibition, they created opportunities for residents of all ages to connect with the past and imagine the future.

Step Back in Time: Watch a 1940s Film Being Made

The celebrations began with a lively, family‑friendly event at Scunthorpe Central Library, where visitors could step behind the scenes and watch a 1940s‑style film being made. The session offered a playful introduction to wartime filmmaking techniques, giving families the chance to see how stories of the past can be recreated and brought to life. Children and adults were encouraged to join in, explore props and costumes, and experience the fun of making a period film together.

Then & Now – Film Premiere and Exhibition Launch

The project continued at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre with the premiere of the Then & Now film, a new work created as part of Scunthorpe’s contribution to Our Freedom. The screening was accompanied by the launch of a community exhibition, bringing together local stories, memories and creative responses inspired by the theme of freedom. Visitors were invited to explore how life in Scunthorpe has changed since the 1940s, and how the idea of freedom resonates across generations.

Then & Now – The Exhibition

The Then & Now exhibition remained open at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, offering visitors the chance to spend time with the film and the accompanying displays. Through photographs, objects, and community‑sourced material, the exhibition reflected on Scunthorpe’s wartime experiences and the freedoms gained – and still being shaped – in the decades since. It provided a thoughtful space for reflection, remembrance and conversation.