Themes: place identity, sustaining large‑scale cultural legacy, empowering communities, launching Hull’s Cultural Strategy and ambition toward UNESCO Creative City of Music.
Date & Venue: 14 March 2024, Princes Quay Event Space, Hull
Attendees: 170 delegates from local arts, cultural, voluntary, education and business organisations
Keynote
- Professor John Holden (University of Leeds) presented on cultural ecologies, exploring how culture thrives within local systems and ecosystems
International & National Panels
- Culture & Place addressed place‑making and local identityPanellists: Laura Dyer MBE (Places, Engagement & Libraries), Merlijn Poolman (Groningen, Netherlands), Nicky Chance‑Thompson MBE (Halifax Piece Hall), chaired by Louise Yates (Back To Ours)
- Large‑Scale Initiatives — discussed sustaining momentum post‑major cultural moments Panelists: Claire McColgan CBE (Culture Liverpool), Ruth Hollis (Spirit 2012), Kully Thiarai (Leeds 2023)
- Supporting Cities — focused on how cities can support cultural growthPanellists: Erika Clark (Belfast UNESCO Creative City of Music), Matthias Rauch (Mannheim UNESCO Creative City of Music), David Wilson (Expert Advisor to Creative Cities); chaired by James Dickinson (Hull Music Service)
Voice of Hull
- A locally produced film premiered, capturing what culture means to Hull residents and feeding into the new city‑wide Cultural Strategy
Evening Highlight
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A torch‑lit procession of 500 volunteers from Hull Minster to Hull Marina culminated in The Tower of Light, a spectacular public performance of pyrotechnics, music and theatre
