Hull is the UK’s City of Culture in 2017, as the city plans for an exciting 365 days full of exciting and inspirational events.
2017 marks the start of an exciting year for the Northern city of Hull, as it embarks on 365 days of celebrations after being crowned the UK’s City of Culture 2017. Hull won the prestigious title back in 2013, and since then have began work on the rebrand of the city as well as a rigorous schedule full of inspiring cultural activity to truly showcase their unique distinctiveness and character. ‘Think you know Hull? Think again’, is just one of the cities slogans in the run up to the events, as they aim to challenge peoples perceptions on the city through dance, film, art and music and make Hull into a Northern cultural destination. The exciting programme will run from 1st January to the 31st December and will be divided into four seasons; each season reflecting something unique and inspiring about the city from the people of Hull to its history and geography.
The first season is a ninety day celebration showcasing a whole range of local talent and creative partnerships throughout January until March, under the banner ‘Made in Hull’. Season one will also see impressive collaborations with a collection of cultural organisations such as the BBC, the Arts Council Collection and the British Museum.
Our round-up of events includes just a few of season one’s highlights, however with so much more left to be announced, there will certainly be some more to add to your calendar in the coming months.
1st to 7th January – Made in Hull
The opening week of the extravaganza will commence with live performances from local Hull talent, fireworks and an illuminating story of the city like you have never seen before. Located in Hull city centre, the event will include a visual story of the city in the last seventy years through large-scale projections on buildings, soundscapes and illuminating skylines.
1st to 7th January – 105 +DB
For many across the world, a football stadium is the perfect location to express passion, unity and support. 105+DB plays on this idea in a new large-scale installation taking the audio from Hull’s football ground crowd and transported it into a new location where it can be explored and appreciated. Hear the beautiful game as you’ve never heard it before!
1st January to 31st December – Look Up
Look Up is an artistic year long project within the city centre, aimed to challenge perceptions, showcase local artists and get people to look up from their phones! Artist’s exciting work will be presented throughout the city in Hull’s public spaces and places and is guaranteed to make you see the city in a new aesthetic light.
2nd January to 19th March – Bowhead
The Hull Maritime Museum opens its doors during the first season to host an exciting sensory event inviting you to get up close and personal with a Bowhead, also known as a Greenland Right Whale. The University of Hull and Hull’s School of Art and Design have created a lifelike audio and visual installation honouring the cities whaling heritage.
2nd February – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: The music of John Williams
Hull City Hall warmly welcome The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as they play the music of legendary John Williams, one of the world’s most prolific and respected film composers. The orchestra will be playing some of William’s most famous pieces from films like Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Star Wars.
17th to 19th February - Mind On The Run: The Basil Kirchin Story
A weekend dedicated to the remarkable story of Basil Kirchin, the forgotten genius of post-war British music, and a founding father of the ambient sound, will also take place at Hull City Hall. This three-day festival in his honour features an all-star line-up of today’s sonic visionaries including Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory and St Etienne’s Bob Stanley.
25th February - City Hall Celebration for 2017
The world premier of a new piece for organ and orchestra commissioned and performed for City of Culture 2017 by Hull Philharmonic Orchestr. The new commissioned ‘6000 Pipes’, for Hull UK City of Culture 2017, takes inspiration from Hull’s rich history and also celebrates the City Hall which has been the orchestra’s home for over 100 years. Martin Roscoe who is an an old friend of the orchestra, joins in this special event as a soloist in Ravel’s Concerto.
25th February to 18th March – The Hypocrite
The award-winning Hull born playwright Richard Bean presents this righteous comedy based on a defining moment in Hull’s history and the governor of Hull in 1642, Sir John Hotham. Hull Truck Theatre will be hosting this hugely entertaining play throughout February and March.
17th March – Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: A Film Retrospective
There will be a series of screenings in the run up to Woody Woodmansey’s Holy Holy return to Hull celebrating arguably the cities best musical product, David Bowie’s band The Spiders From Mars, in particular the legendary Hull born guitarist Mick Ronson. The film will feature live performances, interviews and an in-depth look into the Northern powerhouse guitarist and producer who contributed so much to the music industry.
1st January to 31st December – Opera North
Embark on a glorious musical journey as the Opera North will transform the iconic Humber Bridge it into a living piece of music composed by Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen and collaborators Jan Bang and Eivind Aarset. You can walk across the Humber Bridge with headphones accompanied by the deep sounds of Hull-based sound artist Jez Riley French and performed by the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North.
Season one has so many more exciting events planned and still to be announced, so for more information and a full listing visit hull2017.co.uk.
If you are also out and about in Hull then we want to see your pictures use the #hull2017 and #yorkshirelife hashtags on social media.
