Green groups, artists and community organisations will be showcasing their projects over 21 days across the four local authorities around the Humber region as part of a new festival.
Humber Eco Fest, taking place from October 22 to November 11, and conceived and led by festival director Alan Raw, will shine the spotlight on the growing raft of environmental activity taking place across the region at a grassroots level.
Organisers invited a broad range of eco-projects – and supportive organisations – across Hull, the East Riding, North Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire to run an event where they are based to show what they do.
The festival will open on October 22 with a community day featuring pizza, stalls and music at urban farm Rooted in Hull, as well as eco-educational activities at the Deep focused on wind energy. The festival will then continue to celebrate the sustainable projects around the Humber.
Highlights include the return of the Hull Independent Photography Festival (Hipfest) with a sustainability theme, encompassing nine exhibitions both international and local, plus nature photo walks and climate photography talks and workshops. There will also be an eco-themed quiz night in Burstwick.
The festivities end at Hull Central Library on November 11 with the Humber Eco Fest Conference, coordinated by Sustainability and Beyond, and supported by Hull Culture and Leisure, featuring an impressive line-up of speakers from the Association of Sustainability Practitioners, Living with Water, Optimal Cities, PATT Foundation, Hull Friends of The Earth, Active Humber, and many more both locally and, participating on screen, globally.
Humber Eco Fest gives green groups and individuals from Barton to Bridlington, Grimsby to Goole, Howden to Hull and Scunthorpe to Spurn the opportunity not only to demonstrate what they are doing to help safeguard the planet but also to inform, inspire and include a wider range of supporters.
The role of the arts in raising awareness of climate change, the biodiversity crisis and social justice issues is also a strong theme running through the festival, with 10 exhibitions including What Makes the Humber, Climate Migration Solidarity, Good Technology, I Am Impact, and the opening of the international Faces of Climate Change exhibition revealing the winners for 2023.
From photography to pumpkin-picking, forest schools to tree planting, eco art exhibitions, green technology experiences, family fun at the Deep to Halloween on the allotment, the festival promises is something for everyone.
Festival director Alan Raw said: “The global news media traditionally focus on reporting political conflicts, natural disasters and other dangers we need to be aware of, and many campaign groups also focus on raising the alarm about the escalating climate crisis. But while we – and all of nature – face multiple, major challenges, thousands of people are already pushing back against the poly-crisis, turning their anxiety into positive action, with imagination, green innovation and creative community projects, backed by a global online community of skilled supporters. Humber Eco Fest is your chance to meet, learn and share your story with this positive community of resilience and care.”
