We were delighted to bring the full Our Freedom: Then and Now team together for the first time at our recent programme launch in Manchester. Bringing together key delivery partners from across the country – from Northumberland to Bristol, Liverpool to Cockermouth – the team gathered to kick off what promises to be a powerful and transformative programme.

It was a brilliant moment of connection, collaboration and shared purpose, as those leading the delivery of Our Freedom: Then and Now met in person to look ahead to the months to come.

Leading the programme

Leading the programme are Gavin Barlow and Annabel Turpin, Co-Directors of Future Arts Centres, the network behind Our Freedom: Then and Now. Gavin is the former Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Albany in Deptford, where he led major cultural initiatives including We Are Lewisham 2022, the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture. Annabel is Chief Executive of Storyhouse in Chester, and North Area Council Chair and National Council member of Arts Council England, with a track record of pioneering work in creative policy and artist development.

They are joined by Christine Lee, Programme Manager for Our Freedom: Then and Now and Administrative Director for Future Arts Centres. Christine brings a rich mix of producing, organisational development, and frontline arts centre experience to the team, making her an invaluable anchor for this ambitious national project.

Local leaders, national reach

Six brilliant Cluster Coordinators, seconded from their home organisations within the Future Arts Centres network, are each overseeing a group of ten projects, working closely with their project leads across the UK to ensure strong community engagement and high-quality public-facing outcomes:

· Amanda Gould (Queen’s Hall Arts, Hexham) brings over 25 years of participatory arts and community-led practice to her work in rural Northumberland.

· Annabel Weeden (Cast, Doncaster) has a strong track record of creative youth engagement and co-creation, especially with SEND and underrepresented communities.

· Helen Johnston (Kirkgate Arts and Heritage, Cockermouth) combines a background in archaeology and social inclusion with a deep commitment to heritage and community work in West Cumbria.

· Jen Farmer (Trinity Arts, Bristol) leads inclusive programmes focused on health, wellbeing and learning, rooted in her 20-year career in engagement.

· Laura Yates (The Bluecoat, Liverpool) is a creative producer and storyteller with a long history of shaping participatory practice across arts, heritage, and libraries.

· Millie Bottomley (Storyhouse, Chester) is a freelance producer and facilitator, focused on empowering young people and communities through creative projects.

Each Cluster Coordinator brings extensive experience in, and a long-standing commitment to, inclusive and community-led arts practice and engagement. Working alongside them will be Simon Savidge, of programme partner Libraries Connected where he has led on nationwide library focused projects including StoryTrails, Share The Vision Challenge and BBC’s Novels That Shaped Our World.

Programme support

Behind the scenes are Sophie McKenna and Louise Wilkin, both part of the wider Future Arts Centre team, who are providing administrative and digital support for the programme. Both bring valuable experience from both the cultural and corporate sectors.

Connecting communities

‘This project is about connecting communities to stories – past and present – that speak to what freedom means, who holds it, and how we protect it,’ said Annabel Turpin and Gavin Barlow, Co-Directors of Future Arts Centres. ‘It’s been fantastic to bring together such a passionate, experienced and regionally rooted team to begin this important work.’

Our Freedom: Then and Now will run across 2025 with public events, projects and performances taking place in arts centres, libraries, and community venues throughout the year.

Building on our commitment to place-based collaboration and following the success of Here and Now (2021), a nationwide programme marking 25 years of the National Lottery, Future Arts Centres is thrilled to drive this highly collaborative, community-led venture. Alongside our regular initiatives, Our Freedom: Then and Now exemplifies how arts centres serve as dynamic hubs for public reflection, creative expression, and lasting cultural impact.

Keep up to date with the latest news and stories from the programme by following us across our social media platforms.