Future Arts Centres

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Future Arts Centres

We are a network of over 180 arts centres from across the UK.

We believe that, through offering outstanding artistic experiences for all in our communities, and by operating as robust social enterprises, arts centres present a fantastic model for the

03/10/2026

📸 As Our Freedom: Then and Now reaches the final stops of its nationwide tour, the exhibition arrives in Belfast and Burton‑on‑Trent – two locations that helped shape this vivid portrait of people, place and belonging.

The exhibition will be on display at:

• Belfast Central Library, Belfast: 4 October – 29 October
• Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton‑on‑Trent: 6 October – 30 October

Developed by Future Arts Centres and Open Eye Gallery, the exhibition brings together photography from 60 locally led projects, created with 22 photographers from the Socially Engaged Photography Network. Together, these works reflect on the freedoms gained 80 years ago at the end of the Second World War, and how communities across the UK understand freedom today.

Following its launch at the Southbank Centre earlier this year, the exhibition has travelled to arts centres and libraries across the UK throughout 2026. You can find out more here: https://ourfreedom.org.uk/exhibition/

Our Freedom: Then and Now is delivered by Future Arts Centres in partnership with LibrariesConnected and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England.

(Image credit: Karina Lax Photography www.karinalax.com with Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield)

25/09/2026

📸 Our Freedom: Then & Now 📸
What does freedom mean to you?

From today, discover Our Freedom: Then and Now, a vibrant photography exhibition bringing together images from 60 locally-led projects across the UK, celebrating 80 years since the end of the Second World War and exploring what freedom means to communities today.

We’re incredibly proud that The Spring was chosen as one of just 60 venues nationwide to take part in this special project. Threads of Freedom, conceived and led by artist Helen Sill, working with artist Tanya Wood Artist and members of the local community to share their thoughts, memories and reflections on freedom through drawings, words and stitches.

🧵 These contributions have been woven together into a unique participatory artwork, capturing the voices, creativity and perspectives of our local community. Alongside the photography exhibition, you’ll also be able to see some of the dungarees created as part of the project.

A huge thank you to Future Arts Centres for choosing The Spring to be part of this national programme, to the fantastic photographer Sam Ivin for capturing brilliant photographs of our local community, and — most importantly — to every single person who contributed and helped bring Threads of Freedom to life.

Come and see what freedom looks like through the eyes of communities across the UK — and right here in Havant.

📅 Tuesday 8th September – Friday 2 October 2026
📍 Mezzanine Gallery, The Spring
🎟️ Free to visit

Come along, take a look, and reflect on what freedom means to you.

25/09/2026

📚✨ Across the UK, arts centres are working with schools to bring learning to life through creativity.

From theatre visits and artist-led workshops to creative writing, dance, storytelling, visual arts and behind-the-scenes experiences, arts centres give children and young people opportunities to explore new ideas, build confidence and develop skills that reach far beyond the classroom. Arts centres such as Cast Doncaster, The Core At Corby Cube, StoryhouseLive, artsdepot, Eden Court Theatre and Cinema, Chapter and The MAC all offer different ways for schools to engage with arts and culture, helping young people learn, create, collaborate and discover what they're capable of.

🌟 Whether it's a one-off visit, a long-term partnership or a creative project, arts centres and schools are working together to inspire the next generation.

04/09/2026

📸 Our Freedom: Then and Now continues its nationwide tour this September, arriving at three new venues that helped shape this powerful portrait of people, place and belonging.

You can experience the exhibition at:

• StoryhouseLive, Chester: 6 September – 4 October
• The Dukes, Lancaster: 6 September – 1 October
• The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, Havant: 8 September – 4 October

Bringing together photography from 60 locally led projects, the exhibition reflects on the freedoms gained 80 years ago at the end of the Second World War, and how communities across the UK understand freedom today.

Explore the full tour schedule: https://ourfreedom.org.uk/exhibition/

Our Freedom: Then and Now is delivered by Future Arts Centres in partnership with LibrariesConnected and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England.

(Image credit: Alicia Bruce with An Tobar and Mull Theatre, Isle of Mull)

01/09/2026

📸 JUST 3 DAYS LEFT!

Have you visited Our Freedom: Then and Now yet?

Our national touring photography exhibition is only here at Leeds Central Library until 3 September
Bringing together photographs from 60 locally led projects, the exhibition is a vibrant portrait of people, place and belonging, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War.

✨ Free to visit during our opening hours.

If you’ve been meaning to come along, now’s the time! Don’t miss it. ❤️

01/09/2026

A Place to Be ❤️

You might have noticed we’ve started using these words a little more often when talking about The Witham.

‘A Place to Be’ is about more than what’s on stage or happening in a workshop. It’s about The Witham being somewhere you feel welcome, somewhere to meet people, try something new, spend time and feel safe.

One of the conclusions of some recent research from Future Arts Centres is that “conditions matter as much as programmes”. The atmosphere, accessibility, relationships with staff and simply how someone feels when they walk through our doors can matter just as much as what’s actually being delivered.

This is exactly what we mean when we say The Witham is ‘A Place to Be’

‘Something for Everyone’ reflected the huge range of things happening here and was a fantastic approach when trying to diversify our programme. ‘A Place to Be’ is about more than that and encapsulates the venue itself and the people who make it what it is.

If you're interested in reading more or understanding more about this research we recommend reading

https://futureartscentres.org.uk/model-of-change-identifies-how-arts-centres-deliver-transformational-change-for-communities-and-lives/

26/08/2026

Arts centres change lives – and now there’s clear evidence of how.

We’ve launched a new Model of Change that shows how creativity and culture help people feel welcome, build confidence, connect with others, and find new direction over time.

From first visits to lifelong involvement, arts centres create the conditions where change becomes possible – for individuals, communities and places.

We’d love to hear your stories. How has your local arts centre made a difference to you, your friends or your family?

💬 Share your experiences below and explore the research: https://futureartscentres.org.uk/model-of-change-identifies-how-arts-centres-deliver-transformational-change-for-communities-and-lives/

(Photograph: MAC Birmingham. Photography by Greg Milner.)

12/08/2026

We're hosting the national touring exhibition Our Freedom: Then and Now in our Art Library at Leeds Central Library until 3 September.

This vibrant photography exhibition brings together images from 60 locally led projects, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War. It's a nationwide portrait of people, place and belonging. Free to visit during our opening hours!

12/08/2026

Our Freedom: Then and Now 📷
11 August – 4 September 2026
Level Zero, Barnsley Civic

We are delighted to present Our Freedom: Then and Now, a vibrant national photography exhibition bringing together images from 60 locally led projects, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War.

This exhibition features work from communities across the UK, exploring what freedom meant in this community in 1945 and how those ideas resonate today. These projects are combined to form a powerful nationwide portrait of people, place and belonging.

Developed by Future Arts Centres and Open Eye Gallery, the exhibition forms part of the wider Our Freedom: Then and Now programme. In total, 22 photographers collaborated with communities of all ages and backgrounds, inviting them to reflect on their own histories, experiences and identities.

Pop in to see the exhibition before it moves on.

10/08/2026

📸 The nationwide tour of Our Freedom: Then and Now continues this August, with two new presentations in arriving in Yorkshire.

The exhibition will be on display at:

• Barnsley Civic, South Yorkshire: 11 August – 3 September
• Leeds Libraries (Leeds Central Library), West Yorkshire: 11 August – 3 September

Created from 60 locally led photography projects, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the freedoms gained 80 years ago at the end of the Second World War, and how communities across the UK understand freedom today. Each venue on the tour contributed to the wider programme, with 22 photographers from Open Eye Gallery's Socially Engaged Photography Network collaborating with people of all ages and backgrounds to explore identity, history and connection.

After launching at the Southbank Centre earlier this year, the exhibition continues to travel to arts centres and libraries nationwide throughout 2026. Explore the full tour schedule: https://ourfreedom.org.uk/exhibition/

Our Freedom: Then and Now is delivered by Future Arts Centres in partnership with LibrariesConnected and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport through Arts Council England.

(Image credit: Karina Lax Photography www.karinalax.com with Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield)

Address

ARC, Dovecot Street
Stockton-on-Tees
TS181LL

Website

https://futureartscentres.org.uk/, https://ourfreedom.org.uk/

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