In a community-led, multi-artform project, Alnwick Playhouse will invite the people of Alnwick and district to consider what freedom means to us now, and if and how that has changed in the 80 years since the end of the Second World War, with the aim of creating a takeover weekend at the Playhouse later this … Continued
An Tobar and Mull Theatre’s community-led project will invite local people to remember and reflect on VE Day, Tobermory’s history as a naval base during WWII, and what freedom has meant across generations on Mull. Involving older residents and wartime descendants; young people and schools; local businesses and shop owners along Tobermory Main Street (as … Continued
Exploring what freedom means, here and now, in the context of the end of the Second World War, ARC Stockton will invite local people to join them at ARC’s creative engagement classes to collaborate on leading and shaping pieces of creative work. These will be brought together as recordings filmed across Stockton and live performances, … 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
Grounded in the rich, complex history of Oxford and the diverse voices of those who call it home, Arts at Old Fire Station’s project will invite participants to come together and reflect on the legacy of World War 2, and how freedom has been won, challenged, and redefined across generations. Participants will be drawn from … Continued
Forming an intergenerational and cross-artform creative community from four of its groups – Washington Youth Theatre, Right Track Young Musicians Project, Creative Age, and Washington Community Podcasters – and working with Washington Heritage Partnership, Arts Centre Washington will present a multimedia performance based on stories and reflections on the theme of freedom from its communities … Continued
Shaped by the people of Burnt Oak, home to a rich tapestry of communities, including a strong Nepalese presence rooted in the ex-Gurkha community, as well as long-standing Jewish and Irish populations, and more recently, Romanian communities, artsdepot in London will collaborate on a series of a series of inclusive and participatory workshops which will … Continued
With support from local people and groups, the Awen Cultural Trust team plans to create a multimedia, immersive-style experience based around wartime memories but also around stories and feelings of freedom. Accessible for all generations, from schoolchildren to veterans and everyone in between, this will be a very special opportunity for the community to come … 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
At the heart of an area that was bombed during air raids in the Barrow Blitz, Barrow Library (helped by co-located services at Cumbria Archives) will be engaging young adults, communities of interest, and specific neighbourhoods to look back at what freedom meant for people living in Barrow during 1945 as the Second World War … Continued
Exploring how the idea of freedom has been expressed through the growth and transformation of Bracknell since it was established as a post-war new town, Bracknell Forest Libraries will lead on a project which aims to collect and celebrate the memories of those who have lived in Bracknell from its early days to today, while … Continued
Working with communities in Stonebridge, Harlesden, and Wembley Park – areas with rich cultural diversity, strong community networks, and historical links to migration, resilience, and civic pride – libraries at Harlesden and Wembley will lead on ‘Wembley at War’, an opportunity for local people to creatively explore and share Brent’s hidden wartime stories, connecting the … 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
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Bridport Arts Centre is bringing together voices from across its community to explore what it is to be free in Bridport in 2025. Working with three community groups from across Bridport and the surrounding villages – children from the Bridport Youth and … 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
During the Nazi regime, thousands of Deaf people were subjected to forced sterilisation in the belief that they were a burden to society and the state and with the anticipation that disability could be eliminated in future Aryan generations. Chapter, rooted in the heart of Cardiff, Wales, will create a Deaf-led project which aims to … 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
To mark 80 years since the end of World War II, Eden Court will invite a diverse range of local communities across Inverness and the Highland region to help shape and lead a powerful community project called Cinema Against Fascism. Sparking discussion through a season of thought-provoking films, speaker introductions and community event screenings, they … Continued
In celebration of libraries as inclusive spaces, Barnstaple, Exeter, and Newton Abbott Libraries will invite participants in all three locations to consider the everyday sacrifices of ordinary people during World War II, often overlooked, and think about what freedom means to these communities today. Working with a range of community members (including a resettlement charity … Continued
Working with a range of groups and communities – including the South East Area Army Welfare Service (to involve the children of military families in the Aldershot area); Farnham Integrated Care Services (to reach isolated adults in the community); local primary and secondary schools; and a local choir – Farnham Maltings will invite local people … 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 is now Gosforth Civic Theatre, … Continued
Working closely with local museums including Hartlepool’s Heugh Battery Museum, The Local and Family History Centre, and Hartlepool Art Gallery to ensure that the ideas developed are distinctive to the town, Hartlepool Community Hubs/Libraries will lead on a project to capture meaningful insight about the past and present, that highlights the challenges and achievements which have … Continued
As a Jewish cultural centre with a longstanding commitment to Holocaust learning, remembrance, and community engagement, JW3 will be inviting young people aged 18-35 to join a creative project, shaping a public exhibition that explores how the Holocaust is remembered across generations. A series of artist-led workshops will see participants gaining skills in storytelling, podcasting, … Continued
Working with a cross-section of the Cockermouth community, Kirkgate Arts and Heritage will gather a group of people to help put together a performance and display to explore what freedom means to each of us, individually and together. Working with participants from The Kirkgate Centre’s Open Mic sessions and Poetry Evening and their Heritage Group … 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
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
Working with a range of different local artists and facilitators, LEVEL Centre will place its local community at the heart of a project to shine a light on the secret history of Matlock and the surrounding district, an area which played a fascinating part in the war but one whose stories are often overlooked. Providing … Continued
Lighthouse in Poole will be inviting a range of groups from their community – including Poole Maritime Trust, DEED and the Dorset Ukrainian Community, pupil premium students at local primary schools, local care homes, NHS student nurses, and Young Writers & Adult Writers groups at Lighthouse – as well as sharing on open invitation to … Continued
Lincolnshire’s heritage is closely bound to the Royal Air Force, and in this 80th anniversary year of VE Day, Lincoln Arts Centre will lead on a community project which will delve into the powerful stories preserved in the International Bomber Command Centre’s Digital Archive. From there, the intergenerational mix of participants – from personnel at … Continued
Exploring what the end of the Second World War meant then, especially to the people of Berwick, and what freedom and community means to us now, The Maltings will create ways for young people who are part of the Berwick Youth Project to reflect and be creative together, helping to shape artistic responses to explore … Continued
From their base in one of the most diverse areas of the UK, Newham Libraries will be celebrating the contributions of the South Asian community in the Second World War, allowing the community to commemorate their achievements, as well as collecting memories and memorabilia for the wider public and future generations. Local community groups will … 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
Sitting within the Active & Creative Communities department of North Lanarkshire Council, North Lanarkshire Libraries will draw on connections with groups through Community Learning & Development (including for New Scots), Social Work, Justice and Rehabilitation, and more – including the Lanarkshire Armed Forces Community and Veterans Covenant group – to lead on a project which … Continued
North Shields & Wallsend Community Hubs & Libraries is inviting local people of all ages and backgrounds to join them in creating a powerful community-based project. The River to Freedom will use the long history of the River Tyne as a starting point to explore and capture ideas of freedom, and this collaborative project will … Continued
Working with local families who live at or are linked to Albemarle Army Barracks and RAF Spadeadam, Queen’s Hall Arts in Hexham will deliver a series of workshops to introduce their project to communities in West Northumberland, interpreting the theme of freedom and responding in a way that is relevant to them. Members of the community … 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
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
Working with participants in two groups – 16-25 year olds and those aged over 55 – from diverse cultural backgrounds, living or working in Croydon, Stanley Arts will lead on an intergenerational arts activism project exploring what freedom means to its local communities. With a focus on food, conversation and expressive creativity and performance, participants … Continued
Honouring the past but also building bridges between different generations and communities by emphasising the ongoing importance of freedom, Bredbury Library will lead on a project which will create a Remembrance Walk (starting at the Bredbury and Romiley War Memorial); engage the community in recording a ‘Lived Experience’ project; and see the installation of a … Continued
Working with an intergenerational group of residents of Winsford and delivering a series of masterclasses ranging from creative writing to performance, filmmaking to visual arts, to explore the theme of freedom, Storyhouse will present a project in Winsford Library reflecting the thoughts and experiences of the people of this area.
Strand Arts Centre will work with local care home residents and school pupils, alongside individuals in the community with an interest in the heritage of the local area, to ask what ‘Our Freedom’ meant in east Belfast at the end of the Second World War, and what it means today. Delving into archival photography and … Continued
Inspired by the Castellers of Barcelona – who build human towers as a symbol of unity, trust, and collective strength – The Albany will invite local residents to explore the idea of freedom through the lens of interdependence, asking what does freedom mean when we stand together, and how have communities in Deptford held each … 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
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
Working with those connected to the armed forces, either as veterans or their families, The Customs House in South Shields will lead on a project shaped by local history and personal memories, drawing on the powerful legacy of South Tyneside’s seafaring past and the vital role that local people played during the Second World War. … Continued
The Dukes will invite 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 such as Lancaster King Street Gallery 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
In Hampshire, The Point, Eastleigh, will lead on a project that offers the opportunity to take part in creative activities that incorporate writing/poetry, visual arts, and textiles, leading to the creation of a set of flags and banners that represent what freedom means – then and now – to be displayed across the Borough. Partnering … Continued
Marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre will explore what this anniversary means to the people of Havant Borough, and how they view freedom and community today. Collaborating with local groups – including Havant History Group, Pompey Pals, community knitting groups based at The Spring, … Continued
From its home in the heart of East/Central Bristol, the Trinity Centre will bring together different members of its community to understand how war has shaped modern Bristol, sharing and celebrating the diversity of the city that exists today. Inspired by an exploration of the themes of freedom and community with the local North African … Continued
Warwickshire Libraries will engage communities across four locations – Nuneaton, Bedworth, Atherstone, and Lillington – to collect, preserve, and creatively interpret local WWII stories and experiences of freedom. By anchoring the work in the distinctive industrial, social, and cultural history of each location, the resulting creative outputs will authentically represent Warwickshire’s diverse communities while highlighting … Continued
Inviting Polish women in Hounslow to share their personal stories, reflect on their migration experiences, and take part in creating a powerful portrait of the local community, Watermans will lead on a project exploring what freedom means to women today, through their own words, histories, and identities. They will work with artist and ethnographer Anna … Continued
Leabharlainn nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Libraries will facilitate a community project that honours the vital role Hebridean women played during World War II. With the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’ from the British Film Archive to spark reflection on the distinct wartime experiences of island communities, they will work with partners Tasglann nan Eilean (Outer Hebrides … 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 played a vital role in the war effort, serving as a hub for munitions production and home to thousands who contributed to the Allied cause. Now, they will explore what freedom means to the people of Woolwich – both in the present and for future generations. In partnership with Woolwich Library, and with the … Continued