Our Freedom Then and Now was an ambitious and heartfelt community arts project led by Alnwick Playhouse in partnership with My Life Productions. Created to mark 80 years since liberation at the end of the Second World War, the project brought together storytelling, music, visual art, live performance, and shared cultural traditions in a vibrant, … Continued
An Tobar and Mull Theatre marked Our Freedom with a powerful, island-wide creative project that brought together community voices, young composers, and local history. Through film, storytelling, and sound, they created a living portrait of Mull during wartime and explored how memories of VE Day continue to resonate across generations. A Living Archive of Mull’s … Continued
Our Freedom: Stockton Rising was a powerful live event reflecting on what freedom means to the people of Stockton, 80 years after the end of the Second World War. Taking place on Remembrance Day, the event brought together original work co-created by local participants from ARC’s regular creative engagement classes, refugees and asylum seekers who now … Continued
ARK, Cliftonville’s Cultural Space – a former synagogue with a unique heritage and based in a unique part of Thanet with diverse communities – will invite people to contribute to and take part in The Freedom Space project through building planters, planting (with herbs for the community to use), and creating mosaics and ceramic pieces. … Continued
Am I Free Yet? What is freedom? A dream, an illusion, a shifting state of mind? Does yours come at the cost of mine? Will we ever truly be free? Am I Free Yet? was a theatre production and photography exhibition created by the Hidden Spire Collective, a participatory art group based at the Old … Continued
Arts Centre Washington – Unbound: Our Freedom Unbound: Our Freedom Cabaret was a bold and evocative exploration of what freedom meant to different people—personally, politically, emotionally, and collectively. Presented at Arts Centre Washington, the project brought together storytelling, music, theatre, film, soundscape and visual art in an unforgettable evening that many audience members described as … Continued
artsdepot marked Our Freedom with To Us It Means, a community‑led exhibition created with people from Burnt Oak and the surrounding areas. Rooted in personal stories, shared histories and lived experience, the project invited local residents to reflect on what freedom means – looking back to the past, grounding themselves in the present, and imagining … Continued
Voices of Freedom, a multi-sensory immersive exhibition in Maesteg Town Hall, was a space to reflect and remember the sacrifices of our Armed Forces, past and present. Many visitors described it as “peaceful and beautiful” and “deeply moving”, with several noting how it brought back personal memories of loved ones who had served. Ahead of the exhibition, the project’s associated artist, craftivist Nazeem Syed, led six creative lantern-making … Continued
Barnsley Civic’s project explored the theme of Freedom from Want, a concept first coined by Franklin D. Roosevelt which emphasises the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to basic needs such as food, shelter and education. The project used this idea as a starting point to reflect on how communities can work together to … Continued
Situated in an area heavily affected by the Barrow Blitz – and with a basement that once served as an air‑raid shelter – Barrow Library holds an important place in local history. Today, as a Library of Sanctuary, it continues to be a safe and welcoming space where people can express themselves and where creativity … Continued
Freedom has always been central to the story of Bracknell – from its beginnings as a New Town in 1949 to the opportunities it continues to offer today. As part of the Our Freedom: Then and Now project, Bracknell Forest Libraries explored the theme of freedom through the iconic trees of the borough, using them … Continued
The Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF) supported the delivery of four community events in collaboration with Brent Libraries, Culture and Heritage as part of the Our Freedom: Then and Now project. These events were made possible through collaborative community funding following a UK Government grant awarded via Arts Council England. JRF’s role centred on community engagement, coordination and … Continued
Inspired by the important role women brewers played during WWII to maintain this vital industry, the Brewhouse Arts Centre (housed in a former brewery building donated by Bass to support local theatre) will lead on a project exploring what freedom and community means now, 80 years on from the end of the Second World War, … Continued
From and To An evolving exhibition about creativity and freedom by artist Laura Eldret, created in collaboration with the communities of Bridport and West Dorset. From and To was conceived as both an exhibition about creative freedoms and a space in which those freedoms could be explored collectively. At its centre was Laura Eldret’s large‑scale … Continued
As part of Our Freedom: Then and Now, delivered in partnership with Future Arts Centres, Cast brought together communities across Doncaster to explore what freedom means across generations, experiences and backgrounds. Over several months, the project connected young people, older residents and community groups through poetry, performance, music and visual art. Creating Together Cast worked … Continued
Chapter Arts became a hub for Deaf creativity and community connection during Our Freedom, hosting events that celebrated artistic expression, accessibility, and the power of shared stories. Their programme brought together Deaf artists, local audiences, and families to explore freedom through poetry, performance, and hands‑on making. Celebrating Deaf Voices Through Poetry Chapter welcomed Maggie Hampton, … Continued
(West Dunbartonshire Libraries) Working with local communities, including writers; heritage, book, and craft groups; and residential centres to capture memories of celebration and freedom, Clydebank Library will be reflecting on the feeling of freedom that VE/VJ Day brought, and asking what freedom means today. Hopeful in nature, a photo/video exhibition will be created showing the … Continued
Through its distinctive network of community ambassadors – including representatives from African Families UK, Balkerne Trust Care Home Community, Colchester Gujarati Community, Colchester Arts Centre Youth Board, Colchester Nepalese Society, and Autism Anglia – Colchester Arts Centre will work with its young people, global majority, elderly, and disabled communities to design a celebratory event, exploring … Continued
Working across the county from libraries in Belper, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Ilkeston, and Eckington, Derbyshire Libraries & Heritage Service will lead on a project exploring what freedom means to the people of Derbyshire now, developing ideas for a series of creative community events to take place this autumn. Each event will be unique to the town … Continued
Eastern Angles puts local heritage at the forefront of its work, and The Man Who Fell From The Sky will see Eastern Angles Centre exploring WW2 stories specifically linked to its building’s location within the Westgate Ward, Ipswich. Working with members of their core community groups – EA Youth Theatre; EA Young Company; EA Third … Continued
Cinema Against Fascism was a three‑month season of films and community‑led events presented primarily at Eden Court, Scotland’s largest multi‑arts venue, running from September to November 2025. The project explored what freedom means in an age of rising authoritarianism, celebrating resistance movements and communities around the world that continue to fight for justice, equality and … Continued
Farnham Maltings marked Our Freedom: Then and Now with The Freedom Line, a collaborative promenade artwork created with communities across Farnham and Aldershot. Rooted in remembrance and reflection, the project invited people to consider what freedom means 80 years after the end of the Second World War, and what it means to us now, in … Continued
80 years ago, Gosforth Central Hall was opened as a place for all the community to gather. It was built as a memorial to “remember the brave people of our town, who gave their lives whilst serving in Her Majesties Forces and the Merchant Navy in the 1939–1945 war”. It has grown and moved since … Continued
Hartlepool Remembers: 80 Years of Freedom – Family Fun Day The programme began with a family‑friendly event offering creative activities inspired by the theme of freedom. Visitors were invited to take part in crafts, games, and hands‑on making, all designed to spark conversations about remembrance and the legacy of peace. The session welcomed people of … Continued
Our Freedom: Then and Now was a creative, intergenerational project exploring what freedom means eighty years after the liberation of Europe. Delivered at JW3 as part of a national initiative led by Future Arts Centres, the project brought together 20 young Jewish adults aged approximately 20–35 to reflect on inherited memory, identity, and responsibility through … Continued
Kirkgate Arts and Heritage commissioned two local artists, storyteller Jessie McMeekin and musician JP Worsfold, to create a community musical inspired by stories from Cockermouth at the end of the Second World War and in the post‑war period, alongside reflections from people in the town today on what freedom means to them. During the summer … Continued
On Sunday 19 October 2025 Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield held a free event – Our Freedom – to explore the legacy of VE Day, and what freedom means to us now in 2025. The event was a culmination of their involvement in Our Freedom: Then and Now, a national creative programme marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Choosing to look at … Continued
Threads of Freedom is a Leeds Libraries project created as part of the national initiative Our Freedom: Then and Now, delivered by Future Arts Centres and supported by the UK Government through Arts Council England. The programme invited people across Leeds to explore one powerful question: What does freedom mean to us today, 80 years … Continued
Rooted in Matlock’s extraordinary wartime history – from the School of Military Intelligence to the ‘Matlock Secret Army’ – LEVEL Centre’s contribution to Our Freedom: Then and Now invited local people, learning‑disabled communities, families and visitors to explore the idea of ‘secret freedoms’ through celebration, creativity and shared discovery. SMEDfest The programme began with SMEDfest, … Continued
Libraries Unlimited – Barnstaple Library, Newton Abbot Library and Exeter Library From June to November 2026, Libraries Unlimited delivered Our Freedom: Then and Now across Barnstaple Library, Newton Abbot Library and Exeter Library, working with local artist Athena Jane Churchill and a wide range of community partners to explore what freedom means today. Activity engaged … Continued
At Lighthouse, Poole, Our Freedom unfolded through a rich series of creative workshops that invited people of all ages to explore freedom through writing, sound, and hands‑on making. Working with local artists and community partners, Lighthouse created welcoming spaces where participants could reflect, experiment, and express their own ideas. Our Freedom: Then and Now – … Continued
For Our Freedom: Then and Now, Lincolnshire’s communities were connected with the diverse stories of the bombing war, drawing on the International Bomber Command Centre’s 40,000‑item digital archive hosted by the University of Lincoln. Led by Lincoln Arts Centre, the project brought together RAF bases, schools, volunteers, students, and local residents to explore historical and … Continued
The Maltings marked Our Freedom: Then and Now with a thoughtful and visually striking programme created in partnership with Berwick Youth Project. Rooted in the voices and perspectives of young people, the project explored what freedom means today and laid the foundations for a new commissioned artwork for The Maltings by artist April Key. Our … Continued
Our Freedom: Then and Now is a Newham Libraries programme exploring the intertwined histories of South Asian heritage, the Second World War, and contemporary expressions of identity, resilience, and community. Developed as part of the borough’s wider commemorations marking 80 years since the end of the war, the project brings together artists, historians, young people, older … Continued
Working with Voluntary Norfolk, Freshly Greated (the Creative People & Places project for Great Yarmouth), and the Kick the Dust Youth project run by Norfolk Museums, Great Yarmouth Library will lead on a project which helps people explore the town and its heritage. With visits to other community venues outside of the library, and sites of … Continued
North Lanarkshire Libraries delivered a rich programme for Our Freedom: Then and Now, inviting local residents to explore the legacy of 1945 and reflect on what freedom means today. Through creative writing and visual art workshops led by local artists, the libraries created welcoming spaces for people of all ages to share memories, respond to … Continued
North Tyneside Libraries marked Our Freedom: Then and Now with River to Freedom, a warm and community‑led project celebrating local voices, creativity and the many ways people understand freedom today. Developed in collaboration with artist Amy Langdown, the project brought together community groups from Battle Hill, Wallsend and North Shields Libraries to create a shared … Continued
Our Freedom: Then and Now was a UK‑wide, locally led arts and creative programme that produced new work reflecting on what ‘Our Freedom’ meant to local people and their communities, following the 80th anniversary of VE/VJ Day in 2025. Queen’s Hall Arts worked with the community linked to RAF Spadeadam, a military base on the … Continued
Rural Arts in North Yorkshire is designing a community led process that is rooted in the specific lived experiences of local people living near a military base in Catterick. By engaging directly with military families whose lives are shaped by constant movement, disrupted routines, and constrained freedoms, they will tap into stories and perspectives that … Continued
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 … Continued
Rooted in the community, this project will offer multiple ways to engage in workshops and interventions around the theme of freedom, either as a one-off interaction or workshop, or longer-term. These include postcards (to be distributed across Knowle, asking ‘What does freedom meant to you’, with ideas and thoughts to inspire a song to be … Continued
Involving South Ayrshire Council Museums & Galleries, Girvan Library, Girvan & District Great War Project (GDGWP), Sacred Heart Primary School, and Simon Lamb (poet and Carnegie-nominated author), this project will work with school-aged children and other local community groups to focus on stories of individuals in the area, and spark ideas for the development of … Continued
Stanley Arts delivered a series of community workshops in Croydon, exploring the question of what freedom means today. Using Freedom Road by Simon Armitage as a starting point, participants engaged in facilitated, closed‑group conversations with community partners. The aim was to bridge intergenerational and intercultural divides by creating space for honest reflection on a theme … Continued
With support from Arts Council England and Future Arts Centres, Our Freedom: Then and Now became a heartfelt community storytelling art project inviting people across Stockport to reflect on a simple but powerful question: “What does freedom mean to me?” Inspired by the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day, the project encouraged residents to … Continued
Storyhouse worked with residents across Winsford to explore what freedom means to the community today. Through workshops, photography, writing, and collaborative making, they helped bring together voices of all ages and backgrounds, culminating in a manifesto and exhibition created by Winsford, for Winsford. A Community Manifesto for Winsford As part of Our Freedom, Storyhouse collaborated … Continued
The Strand presented a multifaceted, intergenerational project exploring the questions: “What did ‘Our Freedom’ mean in east Belfast at the end of the Second World War, and what does it mean today?” The project incorporated oral history interviewing, film‑making workshops, photography workshops, site visits, talks and film screenings. It brought together a diverse range of … Continued
Inspired by the Castellars of Barcelona, the Albany worked with students from the National Centre for Circus Arts to create a celebration of balance, resilience and community spirit. Following workshops with local secondary school students exploring what freedom means to young people in Deptford today, the Albany hosted a community celebration during October Half Term. Shoulders of Giants was a … Continued
The Freedom Festival was an inspiring day of creativity, connection and community! Those gathered at The Art House celebrated peace, unity, and freedom through music, art, creative events, food, and shared stories. The festival was the culmination of work with The Art House community and local people, exploring what freedom meant to them, through conversations, creative workshops, and shared experiences. These personal reflections shaped the heart of the Freedom … Continued
Fitting under the umbrella of its Out of the Blue (OOTB) Project, and with most of the sessions taking place in the form of after school clubs, the Bluecoat will lead on an exciting project which will result in a public facing family programme in October 2025 based on the theme of freedom. Expanding its … Continued
Our Freedom was a co-created project led by The Customs House in South Shields, created to mark the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day. Rooted in local history and personal memory, the project honoured South Tyneside’s veteran community and the vital role local people played during the Second World War. The project began in … Continued
The Dukes will work with local communities to explore the history of Lancaster, its part in WW2 and what freedom truly means to us, utilising different art forms and embracing varied experiences to make a significant contribution to art and history in the city centre. Partnering with organisations including Assembly Arts, Lancaster BID and Lancaster … Continued
Rooted in Bury and working with the town’s veterans groups, its LGBTQ+ Forum, the area’s South Asian and migrant community, and volunteers and staff at the Fusiliers Museum, The Met will engage with its diverse communities to gather responses to the notion of freedom. How free are we now? Are some of us more free … Continued
The Fabrics of Freedom was an exciting community‑led project created as part of Future Arts Centres’ national campaign, Our Freedom: Then and Now. The initiative invited people from across Eastleigh Borough to reflect on what freedom means today, 80 years after the end of the Second World War. As part of the project, The Point … Continued
Threads of Freedom was an artist‑led community project shaped through shared making, listening and reflection. Designed and led by artist Helen Sill, with support from artist Tanya Wood, the project developed as a participatory response to place, history, and lived experience. Drawing inspiration from historical autograph cloths – textiles carrying names, messages and marks of … Continued
Freedom 25: Poetic Placards & Billboards was Trinity Community Arts’ contribution to the national Our Freedom: Then & Now programme led by Future Arts Centres. The project brought together 60 arts centres and libraries from across the UK to mark 80 years since VE/VJ Day and explore what freedom means today. At Trinity, creative writing … Continued
Warwickshire Libraries worked with artist Heidi Pendergrast across four locations in the county, exploring stories, memories, and the responses of the next generation in Atherstone, Bedworth, Lillington and Nuneaton. Together, these communities shaped a series of celebrations that reflected both local history and personal experiences of freedom. Hear from Bedworth Almshouses’ residents about their reflections … Continued
For its contribution to Our Freedom: Then and Now, Watermans commissioned London‑based Polish artist and ethnographer Anna Jochymek to work with Polish migrant women. Twenty large‑format photographic portraits and stories were created as part of conversations with women who were either based in, or connected to, the London Borough of Hounslow. During their photographic sessions … Continued
With the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’ from the British Film Archive to spark reflection on the distinct wartime experiences of island communities, Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Libraries will work with partners the Harris Tweed Authority to host a series of events in libraries, inviting the community to gather and share their stories, highlighting the … Continued
Wolverhampton Arts Centre will be working with two local groups, Wolverhampton Cultural Youth Board and residents from Bilston engaged through Gazebo’s Creative Hub, to co-design a public VE/VJ Day celebration event that honours Wolverhampton’s WW2 history and brings together different generations. The project centres around the Arts Centre, formerly a Grammar school with a deep … Continued
Woolwich Centre Library marked Our Freedom: Then and Now with Woolwich at War, a powerful exhibition and opening event exploring the area’s remarkable role in the war effort and what freedom means in today’s world. Through new artwork, archival treasures and community storytelling, the programme invited visitors to reflect on Woolwich’s past and its enduring … Continued