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.

Libraries Connected

An independent charity supporting, promoting and representing public libraries, Libraries Connected’s work is driven and led by their membership, which includes almost every library service in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Across the areas they serve there are 176 individual library services with around 3,000 library branches serving over 61 million people. Their unique approach is to bring these services together to share experience, expertise, and evidence – driving innovation and impact across the public library sector.

As well as providing practical support, training and advice to libraries, Libraries Connected also develops and leads national library projects with cultural, academic, and corporate partners.

Committed to representing the diverse communities and libraries which they serve, Libraries Connected believes that libraries are an essential part of the solution to a range of society’s needs, and they promote innovation and collaboration to ensure that libraries are recognised locally and nationally.

Isobel Hunter MBE, chief executive of Libraries Connected, said: “As shared spaces at the heart of their communities, public libraries have a long tradition of marking national events through local culture and creativity. Our Freedom: Then and Now is a valuable moment for libraries to join with their communities in paying tribute to the Second World War generation and reflecting on what this means for them now in their local area, across the UK and beyond. We’re looking forward to an inspiring programme of events, exhibitions and performances that connect communities and tell stories which resonate with people up and down the country.”

Open Eye Gallery (Liverpool)

Working from the heart of Liverpool and reaching far beyond, Open Eye Gallery is one of the UK’s leading photography spaces, and the only gallery dedicated to photography and related media in the North West of England. They produce exhibitions, long-term collaborative projects, publications, festivals, and university courses – locally and worldwide.

Open Eye Gallery are also the coordinators of a national initiative, the Socially Engaged Photography Network, which seeks to raise the profile and diversity of community and collaboratively driven photography. With their national network reach, we knew Open Eye Gallery would be the perfect partners to bring on board, inviting talented community driven photographers to help capture moments from some of the powerful and diverse stories that will come from the Our Freedom programme. Their 22 photographers from across the UK are excited to engage with like-minded creatives and communities.

Elizabeth Wewiora, Head of Social Practice at Open Eye Gallery, commented: “Open Eye Gallery feels privileged and is excited to be partnering on such an important project. The national scale of the Our Freedom Then and Now programme evidences just how engaged cultural and community partners across the UK are, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE day. The themes behind the programme are also incredibly important to the gallery’s own local and global communities and audiences. We see this project as a way to reflect upon and acknowledge conflicts of the past and present, but also as a way to look to the future in hope, as a place where everyone can experience freedom.”

Milk & Honey PR

From their base in South London, Milk & Honey PR are a diverse collective of creatives, planners, digital specialists, writers, influencers, publicists, designers, brand experts, media leaders, and corporate and social strategists. Passionate about communications that make meaningful impact, Milk & Honey will be responsible for the coordination of a comms and social strategy for the Our Freedom: Then and Now programme, running a central press office, developing toolkits and content for participating venues and amplifying key stories from the community projects.

The account will be run by Senior Client Directors, Sanjiv Winayak and Lewis Oakley, Digital Director Hannah Williams, Digital Manager Oliver Henn, Senior Client Executive, Keaiana O’Riordan and Client Assistant, Havana Frakes.

Sanjiv Winayak, Senior Client Director, said: ‘At Milk and Honey, we’re passionate about communications that make meaningful impact – and this initiative perfectly reflects that. Through celebrating the past and amplifying voices of the present, we’re honoured to help Future Arts Centres bring this vital story to life for new.’

What Unites Us

These three partners bring unique strengths that complement our mission:

• Libraries Connected anchors a trusted, nationwide network with a focus on social inclusion.

• Open Eye Gallery brings expertise in community engagement and a platform for authentic storytelling through photography.

• Milk & Honey PR ensures those stories are seen, heard, and felt by the audiences who matter by driving maximum awareness and participation.

We’re excited to work alongside such aligned and forward-thinking organisations who will help to deliver a programme that highlights real people and real stories from communities across the UK as we aim to create powerful, public moments of reflection and connection that honour the past while inspiring the future.