Manchester‑based artist and activist Lou Miller collaborated with children from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School, close to the arts centre in Liverpool 1, to explore their vision of freedom.The resulting exhibition transformed the voices of the children, aged 8–11, into a series of textile banners, clay pieces and print works for adults and children alike.

Lou Miller’s practice has a strong collaborative focus, exploring themes of community, work, health and social change. For We Dream of Our Freedom, the gallery became a community studio, inviting audiences to share their own ideas of freedom and respond to the children’s vision.The themes of the project resonated deeply with the Bluecoat’s own historic story. The building was severely damaged during the Liverpool Blitz in May 1941 and has served as an arts centre for the past 100 years, championing creativity and the freedom for artists – and everyone – to express themselves through artistic practice.

Alongside the artwork on display, visitors were encouraged to get creative and explore the theme of freedom in their own way and at their own pace, making postcards and zines in the gallery space throughout the run of the exhibition.

Five artist‑led family days formed part of the programme, encouraging engagement with the themes of the exhibition and the national programme.

The gallery exhibition also included an audio loop made up of many voices expressing what freedom meant to them. The audio clips were submitted to the project before the exhibition opened and represented a diverse mix of perspectives and people, including many submissions in worldwide languages.