NEWS | Colliderfest – A new festival to celebrate science, culture and art in city

This inaugural event, a collaborative effort between Hull City Council, the Hull Maritime project, Hull Museums and Gallery, and the University of Hull, will explore the dynamic connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and maths.

The four-day extravaganza will bring together two days of educational events for schools followed by a weekend of exciting science and arts-based activities, workshops and shows, for visitors with a large-scale evening spectacle of light installations trailing across the city centre.

‘Colliderfest 2025’ will kick off with two inspiring days dedicated to children and young people, encouraging them to embrace careers in science, green energy and innovation. Attendees can look forward to a diverse array of workshops, performances, and interactive exhibitions led by industry professionals and world-renowned scientists. A focus on environmental issues will also be prominent, sparking conversations and actions that address our planet's challenges.

The latter half of the festival, on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March, will shift its focus to families and young people, featuring an engaging programme filled with discovery zones spread across the Museums Quarter, Ferens Art Gallery, and Hull Truck Theatre to name a few. They will showcase interactive exhibits, live performances, and family fun and hands-on engineering challenges for everyone to enjoy. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in both entertaining and thought-provoking discussions that impact on culture and society and challenge preconceived notions about what science is and what it can be.

The festival programme will include family-friendly shows by a wide range of science communicators. Visitors will also be able to participate in a wide range of hands-on activities, workshops and experiments including exotic animal handling, state of the art robotics demonstrations and activities demonstrating the impacts of environment and climate change. Venues will also host a range of activities created by both academics at the University of Hull and local science-based industries that will inspire an interest in the world of science and technology.

Programme highlights include an outdoor physical theatre performance, featuring a 13-foot-tall sea giant puppet telling a moving tale about our earth’s climate emergency told trough dance, movement and masterful puppeteering. This spectacle is designed specifically for family and festival audiences and tells the magical story of Eko, a sea giant who rises from the deep ocean and who encounters, on the shore, a courageous little girl called Violet.

Experience a magical evening of light, art, and movement as the city centre transforms on Friday 14 March. Follow a trail of stunning displays at various locations and join us for an unforgettable night that brings the city centre to life.

The event will take place alongside Hull’s second Cultural Tides conference on Friday 14 March, when the Culture and Heritage Strategy 2025-2030 will launch at Hull Truck Theatre.

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, expressed his enthusiasm: “This festival is an incredible opportunity to inspire the next generation.

“As the first city centre science and art festival, we hope to establish it as an annual celebration. For those who may not have a prior interest in science and arts, we believe there will be something in the programme to spark curiosity, creativity and a desire to learn more.

“Alongside the launch of our new Culture and Heritage strategy, the event aims to shine a light on Hull’s continuing journey as a city brimming with culture and creativity.”

Professor Mark Lorch, University of Hull - Professor of Public Engagement and Science Communication and Festival Director, said: "Over the last 10 years we've held a science festival centred around the University Campus. I'm thrilled that partnerships with Hull City Council, the Hull Maritime project, Hull Museums and Gallery, have enabled this to grow into a city wide event.

“ColliderFest will fuse all drama and creativity of the arts with the amazing science and technology from around the region and create a truly inspiring new feature in the city's calendar.”

Join us in celebrating the fusion of arts, science, and engineering at this innovative free festival. More details on the festival schedule and ticketing will be announced soon.

For more information and to register your interest in the festival follow X @Colliderfest, Facebook @ColliderfestUK and Tiktok @colliderfest or visit colliderfest.co.uk