Thousands of people came from far and wide into Hull city centre and enjoyed a weekend of illumination, innovative light installations and a truly magical family friendly atmosphere, celebrating the change in seasons from winter to spring and Hull’s maritime ties to nature.
‘The Awakening’, Hull’s first major event of the year, drew in thousands of people over two nights on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 March.
Audience numbers are reported to be more than 100,000 over the two evenings and the atmosphere was joyful and full of big smiles and gasps of wonder.
After a successful pilot event in 2022, Hull City Council again commissioned Freedom Festival Arts Trust (the local team behind the summers annual Freedom Festivals) to curate and deliver a world-class line up of international artists alongside national and local artists featuring promenade performances, awe inspiring and innovative light installations and a musical programme highlighting some of our unique heritage buildings and streets. The FFAT team have been working for years to design this unique Arts, Heritage and Music Festival with the aim of creating a new annual tradition for Hull.
Thousands of people explored the history-rich streets of the city centre from Queens Gardens, down Whitefriargate, across Trinity Square into Trinity Minster and up to Zebedee’s Yard uncovering the creative programme with light, illumination, performance, and music.
Ferens Art Gallery also remained open into the evening for visitors to look around their galleries and exhibits along with a chance to see the RE:SCORE films project and a special live performance by Broken Orchestra, the gallery welcomed in excess of 3,500 people each evening, many visiting for the first time ever, a great example of the wider value and impact of the partnership between the independent arts organisation and the city’s civic organisations, a real legacy of Hull 2017.
The unique Awakening tradition of inviting audiences to make individual specially designed fox masks to wear at the event was boosted this year by FFAT sending out more than 23,000, to every primary school pupil in Hull as part of their partnership with Hull and East Riding Museums, each pupil receiving a fox mask pack alongside a host of workshops which also took place leading into and on the evening of the event where another 5,000 masks were given out.
Queens Gardens was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour, focussing on the natural world at night. Thousands of people enjoyed an illuminated walk, wrapped in a beautiful soundscape by film composer Roma Yagnik. This was the last major event to take place in Queens Gardens before work gets underway to improve the much-loved green space.
Councillor Rob Pritchard, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Crime Prevention and Culture, said: “What a fantastic start to the year and the city’s events programme.
“It was a special weekend, and it was great to see so many people despite the wet weather, of all ages turn up, to enjoy this major event for the city.
“The Awakening was fantastic, bringing to life world-class installations and live performances with illumination, innovative costume, robotic installations, a stunning light garden and live music. This new festival is a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing organisations together to create something special for residents and visitors alike.”
Mikey Martins, Artistic Director, and CEO of the Freedom Festival Arts Trust said: “All the team are delighted that The Awakening was such a success in year two, we are so excited to develop this event further over the coming years. In these challenging times for all, it really was incredible to see the joy on the faces of so many families and people of all ages enjoying all the artworks, performances, and installations.
“The atmosphere was so joyful and friendly and welcoming for all, we can see from social media and from evaluation that many people had come to one of our events for the first time and what a great impression for them to take home with them of our great city shining at its best even in the difficult times for so many.
“Big thanks to all the funders and partners for their support and investment, without them these kinds of events are just not possible, we hope they will continue to work hard to invest in this partnership and in this unique and wonderful event for its future sustainability.
“To be able to deliver such high quality and accessible free annual events for the city is increasingly challenging, we’re hugely grateful to have a local council who understand the community need of our events, the clear and heart-warming social impact we see and the economic benefit it brings to the local businesses, long may it continue.”
There was also a special ‘Awakening’ edition of Trinity Live in Trinity Market, with live music entertaining a packed and vibrant market, creating a great atmosphere. Many food traders stayed open, offering food and refreshments.
Will Chalk of Falafia in Trinity Market, said: “Friday was good and Saturday was really busy. I think we took a week’s worth of revenue over those two days.”
Other businesses in the city centre also remained open into the night on both evenings.
Richard Clark of Advocate Group, which operates the Dram Shop, Humber Dock Bar & Grill and Bar Babylon, said: “The Awakening was another great event for Hull city centre and brings mass footfall to the city itself and businesses within. The increased crowds always positively affect our venues in terms of awareness and food and drink sales – something sorely needed in the current climate.”
Julie Barfield of The Friary fish and chip shop in Whitefriargate, said: “We normally close at 6pm but we stayed open until 10pm and it was well worth it. Friday was nice and steady and Saturday was absolutely crazy. We’ve found the same with previous events in the city centre and we’d love to see more of them!”
With support from the Shared Prosperity Fund, HM Government Levelling Up Fund, Hull Maritime and the Heritage Action Zone which is funded by Historic England, Freedom Festival Arts Trust were commissioned by Hull City Council to bring this event back to Hull city centre again in 2023.
The summer Freedom Festival takes place between the 30 August – 3 September, save the dates.
