Exhibition Photographs

‘Ukrainian Girls’

‘Love, Strength, Victory’

‘Marching on Together’

LEVEL Centre, Matlock.

LEVEL Centre, Matlock.

Chef and Artist, The Art House, Wakefield.

‘Neptune’

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre.

LEVEL Centre, Matlock.

‘Bread and Roses’

LEVEL Centre, Matlock.

Arts Centre Washington hosted Unbound: Our Freedom Cabaret, a vibrant, thought-provoking multimedia performance exploring what freedom means today, created by the arts center’s creative groups, and was performed in November 2025. The young people in the photographs are a mix of performers and musicians.

Barry The project was shared across existing Community Hubs and Libraries groups, including art, knit and natter, tai chi, reading, writing, and pop-up choirs.

Pauline River to Freedom used the long history of the River Tyne as a starting point to explore ideas of freedom, resulting in collaborative creative work made by local and library community groups, supported by artists and shaped by the artforms that emerged through the process.

Sandra North Tyneside Community Hubs and Libraries invited local people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in a community-led project.

Dawn

A young participant, Kaleb at Heugh Battery Museum.

Rob, Hartlepool resident and participant.

A young participant from the Hart Gabels charity. The project involved Hartlepool residents of all ages, with both intergenerational celebrations and activities tailored to specific groups, including school-aged children, diverse groups young and older adults, including Hart Gabel’s LGBTQi+ charity and ex-military personnel.

Bryony Invitations were also extended to wider community organisations such as local history groups, churches, the Walking With refugee charity, young carers, and youth groups, ensuring an intergenerational approach.

Amanda Gould, Engagement Manager at Queen’s Hall Arts. Queen’s Hall Arts in Hexham worked with local families connected to Albemarle Army Barracks and RAF Spadeadam to deliver a series of workshops introducing the project to communities in West Northumberland. Queen’s Hall Arts in Hexham worked with local families connected to Albemarle Army Barracks and RAF … Continued

Two children at Heugh Battery Museum, Together, they gathered insights into the past and present, exploring the challenges and achievements that have shaped ideas of freedom over time.

Charlie The event highlighted the importance of the arts in giving young people a space to express themselves, explore ideas of freedom, and build confidence, creativity and critical thinking.

Members of the band ‘Apricity’. Apricity means the warmth of the sun in winter.

Corey and Bettie

Liv, Drama Facilitator.

‘Share and Share Alike’

Katy Participants explored the theme of ‘freedom’ and responded in ways that were meaningful to them. Community members were also involved in selecting the artist, Emma Tominey who shaped the final outcomes of the project.

Emma Tominey, Commissioned Artist.

Terry “Creativity, is an amazing way to lose yourself, and give an element of freedom from all of the above. Kids doodle in their school book as their minds wander and they are off somewhere else, adventures in their mind. I still doodle now […] During one of my most difficult times, my tour of … Continued

Terry “My grandfather was in the military, my dad was in the military, my mam was in the military. I have three brothers. All three are currently in the military. I am in the military. I was born in 1973 at The Princess Margaret Hospital, Royal Air Force Akrotiri. [In] 1974 Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus … Continued

Ozzy Gosforth Civic Theatre is the UK’s only theatre founded and guided by people with learning disabilities. Liberdade Community Development Trust (pronounced lib-er-dar-jie), the disability arts charity that took over and transformed Gosforth Civic Theatre in 2016, takes its name from the Brazilian Portuguese word for Liberty. Liberdade literally means Freedom.

Max Since its beginnings, Gosforth Civic Theatre has evolved into a social enterprise dedicated to raising expectations of what people with learning disabilities can achieve, while welcoming the whole community through activities for all.

James The performance uses dance, physical theatre, and song to honour its heritage and celebrate where we are now, shaped by the local community. The portraits focus on the people behind the performances as they rehearse.

Simon & Andrew Gosforth Civic Theatre promotes inclusion, ensuring that people with learning disabilities are valued members of society. We are a vibrant community hub, shaping a more inclusive future for everyone. Like all arts organisations, we want to change the world, we want to bring people together to create understanding, we want to decide … Continued

Lily Rose, commissioned artist. Hartlepool Community Hubs and Libraries led a town-specific project in close partnership with local museums, including Heugh Battery Museum, the Local and Family History Centre, and Hartlepool Art Gallery.