Regeneration leader Wykeland Group has extended its support for Hull’s cultural showpiece, Freedom Festival, through to its milestone 20th year.
As a top-tier supporter of the city’s annual arts extravaganza, Wykeland will be a Core Funder of Freedom Festival for the next three years.
The enhanced partnership will run through to Freedom Festival’s 20th anniversary year in 2027, and will mean that Wykeland has been a key sponsor of Hull’s flagship cultural event since its beginnings in 2007.
It underlines Hull-based Wykeland’s commitment to championing arts and culture in Hull and the wider region, bringing communities together as part of its passion for combining physical, cultural and social regeneration.
Wykeland invests more than £100,000 annually into social, charitable and cultural projects in the region, with its support for Freedom Festival a key element of this commitment
Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “Freedom Festival has been a highlight of the region’s events calendar for approaching two decades.
“In that time, it has played a hugely important role in showcasing and celebrating Hull’s rich and varied cultural and arts scene, as well as bringing to the city inspirational and unforgettable performances and experiences.
“At Wykeland, we strive to make a positive impact which stretches far beyond our developments. Our continued support of the Freedom Festival reflects our passion for social and cultural regeneration alongside our continued investment in creating great places for people to live, work and play.”
Wykeland Culture & Events Manager Natalia Blogg added: “We’re excited to see what Freedom Festival has in store in 2025 and we look forward to deepening our relationship with Freedom Festival Arts Trust over the next three years.”
Previously a Freedom Festival Major Sponsor, Wykeland has now upgraded its partnership to become a Core Funder. It puts Wykeland among the leading partners of the festival, alongside Hull City Council and Arts Council England.
Wykeland plays a significant and important role in the region’s creative sector. The business has supported more than 40 cultural organisations, including working with Hull’s Middle Child theatre company to create the Fresh Ink writers’ festival to develop creative skills, which is now in its second year.
Wykeland is also a Founding Signatory of the Hull and East Yorkshire Creative Charter, which calls on organisations to support and champion the region’s creative sector.
Dominic Gibbons is also Chair of HEY Creative, Hull and East Yorkshire’s multi-sector Cultural Compact, which works to create the conditions in which culture and creativity thrive.
Wykeland’s portfolio includes Stage @TheDock, Hull’s distinctive outdoor venue located in the city’s Fruit Market urban village. Opened ahead of Hull’s year as UK City of Culture in 2017, Stage @TheDock is now established as a leading venue for arts and theatre, and is a key location for Freedom Festival.
Freedom Festival is taking place this year from August 28-31 in a range of spaces and places across the city.
Phil Hargreaves, Festival Director of Freedom Festival, said: “Having been a supporter of Freedom Festival since inception, it seems fitting to acknowledge our long-standing partnership with Wykeland by crediting them as a Core Funder, alongside Arts Council England and Hull City Council, for Freedom Festival Arts Trust (FFAT).
“The support we receive year on year is testament to their dedication to culture and supporting Hull in continuing to be a destination to work, live and play.
“The support from local businesses is paramount to FFAT achieving our goals and ambitions of bringing the community of Hull together, celebrating our rich heritage of freedom and social justice, delivering a festival that puts Hull on the map, nationally and internationally, and allowing us to keep our programme 85% free to access for all.
“This investment will provide the foundations that will allow FFAT to do just that, and we are delighted to embark on this new relationship with Wykeland as we head towards our 20th birthday.” Freedom Festival continues to go from strength to strength. In 2024, 70,000 visitors attended the festival across three days, as almost 200 artists from 32 different performance companies delivered 218 events. Freedom Festival is estimated to contribute £1.8m of economic impact in the city of Hull.
