You’re invited to a private view of the Now & Then: Lincolnshire Mosaic of Freedom, a tapestry of large-scale digital mosaics composed of over 5,000 community submitted images and archive materials. Drawing on extensive experience with participatory digital art projects, Artist Allan Levy will blend local voices, history, and symbolism to create a brand-new visual … Continued
Meet Kate Russell, the original designer and artist for the Leeds Tapestry. Over 2,000 people had a hand in producing the tapestry celebrating Leeds, its people and its history. Find out more about the highs and lows of the making of this iconic artwork in a fascinating talk and mini tour of the original and … Continued
Leeds Libraries are delighted to be one of the 80 Arts Council England-funded Our Freedom projects, including libraries, art centres, and museums, who are focused on bringing communities together to reflect and celebrate creatively on the freedoms enjoyed after the end of WW2, inspired by a specially commissioned poem, Freedom Road by Poet Laureate Simon … Continued
Leeds Libraries are delighted to be one of the 80 Arts Council England-funded Our Freedom projects, including libraries, art centres, and museums, who are focused on bringing communities together to reflect and celebrate creatively on the freedoms enjoyed after the end of WW2, inspired by a specially commissioned poem, Freedom Road by Poet Laureate Simon … Continued
Light Night Leeds is the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival. For the past 20 years, over two incredible nights in October, some of Leeds’ most recognisable indoor and outdoor spaces have been transformed by spectacular artworks and captivating performances by local, national and international artists. During the festival, come and spend some time … Continued
Leeds Interfaith group meet for fellowship, education, mutual understanding and to promote peace. These monthly sessions focus on collaborative, textile-based projects. This year, the group are focusing on the Threads of Freedom project – come and support them making bunting for the celebration event. All are welcome to these drop in sessions on Monday 6 … Continued
Come along to this skill sharing, textile session. Meet artists and participants from the Threads of Freedom project who are sharing the following skills that you can quickly pick up using mainly sustainable materials. Shashiko Yorkshire Buttons Suffolk Puffs Learn to darn wool garments with Lorna Johnston (bring in a clean sock!) Have a go … Continued
As evening approaches, Bramble Woods will become the setting for music, light, and shared experiences. Performances will include the Military Service Children’s Choir and other musicians, creating an atmosphere that encourages gathering and conversation. Fire pits and lanterns, made during a community workshop, will light the woods and welcome visitors to wander, listen, and take … Continued
Join The Art House in Wakefield for an inspiring and fun day of creativity, connection and community at their Freedom Festival! Expect joyful celebrations of peace, unity, and freedom through music, art, creative events, food, and shared stories. Over the summer, The Art House has been working closely with local people to explore what freedom … Continued
Join Lawrence Batley Theatre for Our Freedom, a celebratory performance representing what freedom means to us. Freedom Road, the specially commissioned poem by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, has been the inspiration for groups and artists across the local community to come together and create images, music, dance and drama to reflect what freedom means to … Continued
Learn how to use fabric and thread to tell stories at this drop-in textile workshop led by artist Hayley Mills-Styles. As part of the Threads of Freedom project, you will be expertly guided to create embroidered, patchworked and embellished pieces of textile art, inspired by the history of Leeds and the Leodis photographic archives. You … Continued
Learn sewing machine skills to make your own pad and support women here and overseas. Be part of a fantastic new initiative to provide free reusables in Leeds Central Library. Wednesdays 1pm – 3pm on 10 September, 8 October, 10 December. Also Saturday 11 October 12.30pm – 3.30pm. Age guidance: 14+.
Join artist Lorna Johnston in the Drawing Room at Leeds Central Library and learn to patch and repair holes using honeycomb darning. This strong and relatively quick visible mending technique is perfect for darning socks and reinforcing worn areas of clothing and creates an attractive circular pattern. Lorna will guide you in choosing the right … Continued
Join artist Lorna Johnston in the Drawing Room at Leeds Central Library and learn to darn an item of clothing using the woven darning technique. This versatile method is great for knitted or woven textiles, and can be used to patch holes, cover stains, and reinforce worn areas. Lorna will guide you in choosing the … Continued
You’re warmly invited to a special community Tea Party at Cast Theatre, commemorating 80 years since VE/VJ Day, and celebrating shared freedom and humanity with people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures from across Doncaster. During this afternoon of remembrance, creativity, and connection, you can enjoy: • A short performance by Doncaster People’s Theatre • … Continued
Grab a picnic and join Barnsley Civic for a special Garden Gathering to launch their Autumn/Winter season and celebrate Our Freedom: Then and Now. Featuring live music and entertainment, street performers, lawn games and creative crafts for all the family, this event will also see the unveiling of a brand-new series of banners specially commissioned … Continued
Through the co-creation of The Festival of Freedom, Peace and Unity, The Art House will invite its local communities, especially those with lived experience of forced displacement and conflict, to come together to explore what freedom for everyone means today, through art and creativity, storytelling and sharing, food and music. Celebrating resilience, hope, and unity, … Continued
Inspired by the poetry of Simon Armitage, Leeds Libraries will be working with communities across the city to explore and reflect on what freedom means to the residents of Leeds. A great textile city, they will be celebrating this with artists who will support the creation of a collaborative textile artwork to be displayed alongside … Continued
Centred on the idea of ‘Freedom from Want’ and exploring community solidarity and collective action in Barnsley from the 1940s to the present day, Barnsley Civic will focus on food, then and now, linking war-time rationing, growing-your-own, and food waste reduction, to modern-day food banks and community pantries.Local organisations and individuals will come together to … Continued
Working with the Sikh community through the Sikh Soldiers Organisation and their Community Ambassador Hardeep Sahota; their Community Partners for their Theatre of Sanctuary work, IASK (Immigration & Asylum Support Kirklees) and The Ukrainian British Friendship Group; and local refugee and asylum seeker groups via 6 Million Plus, Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield will bring … Continued
To mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, Cast in Doncaster, together with local people, partners, charities, and creatives, will be diving into the idea of freedom – what it meant back then, and what it means to us now, especially to those seeking sanctuary. Through poetry, dance, music, and spoken … Continued