Successfully launched in 2022 and attracting 40,000 audiences across two programmes of events, Our Future Starts Here aims to explore issues of our time, while providing new experiences for North East Lincolnshire residents and highlighting Grimsby’s place in the world now.
A programme of events exploring climate change, nature and wellbeing returns to Grimsby this month for the second year running. Curated by Grimsby-based arts organisation The Culture House and supported by eco-smart tech company myenergi, ‘Our Future Starts Here’ is inspired by Grimsby’s place as a world-leader in the green energy sector.
It takes place across Grimsby from Friday 26th – Sunday 28th May and aims to empower people to make positive change for the future, both for themselves and the planet. Events include circus, dance, nature activities and more, and are either £5 or free – more info at www.ourfuturestartshere.co.uk.
Grimsby is a global leader in renewable energy and green technology, with the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2, operating out of the town. Its close proximity to the North Sea, strong winds, and investment in green energy infrastructure has made it a hub for offshore wind power generation, contributing to the country’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing Our Future Starts Here back to Grimsby for the second year,” says Culture House Director, Charlotte Bowen. “All of the events are designed to make people think about the future in a positive way; for themselves, their communities and the planet.”
“As world leaders in renewable energy, Grimsby is a place of positivity and innovative thinking. We want ‘Our Future Starts Here’ to inspire people, and we hope that we’ve created a space for chat, support, expression, problem-solving and wellbeing.”
The first iteration of ‘Our Future Starts Here’ took place last year and attracted 40,000 people, with events including Luke Jerram’s giant Earth sculpture ‘Gaia’ at Grimsby Minster.
Circus, performance and music
A programme highlight is a breathtaking circus and dance show performed inside a giant rotating hourglass in the middle of St James’ Square. Completely free for audiences, ‘Timeless’ by Joli Vyann is a poignant reminder that we’re running out of time to reverse climate change.
An improvised music, dance and storytelling evening at Grimsby Minster invites audiences to become active participants in creating a dreamlike world of the future. Hosted by musician Marco Woolf and supported by Opera North and Jazz North, ‘Dream Setting’ will make use of the Minster’s beautiful grand piano. There will be a dedicated session especially for SEND audiences and their families and friends.
And people can travel to the Year 2061 to take a ‘carbon dependency test’ with Manchester’s Ergon Theatre as well as compete against a Chat GP Artificial Intelligence to write the best poetry.
River walk and litter pick with the Canoe River Cleaner
Families can go on a wildlife walk along the banks of the River Freshney with James Elliot, AKA the Canoe River Cleaner, a local litter-picker who cleans up the river from his canoe. The walk includes a brief history of the Freshney, an overview of its wildlife, a nature i-spy for kids, and a duck feeding session. You can give back to nature afterwards by joining in with a litter pick, ending up at Grimsby in Bloom for a cuppa.
Myenergi is incredibly proud to be helping to highlight Grimsby’s role as a world-leading green energy hub. Through our products, we help consumers become more aware of their energy, reducing how much of it they use, and helping them to use what they generate or import in the most efficient way. We aim to be responsible in our relationship with the environment, from how we are building our new production facility and how we are manufacturing, to how we enable our customers to save their own energy. myenergi.com
FRIDAY 26 MAY
Dream Setting
Marco Woolf
Two shows:
5pm relaxed performance for SEND audiences (all ages)
8pm (all ages)
Grimsby Minster
Duration: 1 hour
All tickets £5
Marco Woolf – vocals, acoustic guitar
Carmel Smickersgill – synth, electric guitar, vocals
Tom Harris – piano, clarinet, vocals
Sara Marques – dance, vocals
Marco Woolf presents dream setting, a playful and interactive journey of music, dance and storytelling, supported by Opera North and Jazz North. Audiences are invited to enjoy this experience of improvisational storytelling and dance, in a show that makes use of the Minster’s beautiful grand piano and invites those present to be active participants in creating a dreamlike musical world with future themes.
FRIDAY 26 MAY
WTAF
Comedy night hosted by Live Laugh Lincs
Grimsby Central Hall
(Roy Kemp Suite)
8pm (18+)
All tickets £5
Following recent sell-out events showcasing regional up and coming talent, host Grimsby resident and female comedian Lauren Smith hosts a break-out night looking at WTAF is going on in the world with a line up of diverse comedians from the national circuit. Are you ready?!
SATURDAY 27 MAY
St James’ Square
TIMELESS
By Joli Vyann
12pm and 2.30pm
St James’ Square
DN31 1EP
Grimsby
Free
Timeless is about the passing of time and the fear that we as humanity are literally running out of it. Joli Vyann uses their unique and dynamic style of dance, circus and theatre on a rotating hourglass, to tell the story of civilisation as we know it and its fragile relationship with time and nature. The performance moves through a story of climate change, its consequences and the larger question of how humanity copes with the balance that could at any point tip into ‘chaos’.
Four performers dance, gracefully balance and with acrobatic skill throw themselves around, on and inside the hourglass. This is a ‘dare devil’ yet sensitive exploration of the nature of time and how the need to take action is urgent.
Following the second performance, the show’s cast will be available to chat and answer questions in the Minster from 3.30pm.
Running time: 40mins
Choreographed & Directed by Joli Vyann
Performed by Jan Patzke, Olivia Quayle, Michael Kelland, Jennifer Wilson
Original Music by Nao Masuda
Set Design by William Datson
Produced by Joli Vyann
Executive Producer Dougie Evans
Our Future Starts Here Market & Social
10am – 4pm
Grimsby Minster
Free entry
The place and time where and when you can explore and buy from some of North East Lincolnshire’s creatives, while chilling, chatting and finding out more about sustainable futures.
Suitable for all ages, the OFSH Market & Social invites you to browse a range of stalls, some of which have introduced sustainable elements to their business, as well as take part in a range of well-being and nature activities, hosted by local and visiting organisations.
Both children and adults can get involved in activities from Nurture Nature Forest School, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, The Woodland Trust, mindfulness sessions by Claire Roach and more. A number of creative stalls themselves will be hosting free drop-in activities on the day too.
There will also be a number of ‘drop in’ table-top talks that you can sit down and get involved in, hosted by various creatives and organisations exploring a range of mental health and well-being topics.
Artist Sarah Palmer will be leading on a doodle-y ‘Worry Wall’ where you can offload all of those icky things on your mind, with the chance to also relax and get stuck in with mindful colouring activities.
As well as hosting a talk table, local author Katie Hopper will be explaining the background behind her series of children’s books The Girl Who Found her Glow and The Boy with a Heart-Shaped Balloon, covering subjects such as grief and bullying. There will be children’s story-telling sessions on the day, based on her books.
Recently featured on ITV, Grimsby-based Be Great Fitness will be present on the day with their Food for Thought initiative, a new project recently highlighted by ITV aiming to redress the negative impacts of social media on young people – children, teenagers and adults can all get involved in on the day.
Grimsby Minster itself will be offering sustainability and well-being focussed activities too while the Minster cafe will be open, with Vegan options.
Also outside alongside the installation and performance will be delicious food from Greek Shack and Cooky Cooks.
& There’s More
Grimsby’s Holiday Inn Express has created a special event and food offer for families on Saturday 27 May, as part of Our Future Starts Here.
Holiday Inn Express
Wellowgate
Grimsby
Two sessions
1.30pm – 4pm
4 – 6.30pm
Advance bookings only
Book here:
Holiday Inn Express’s meet space will be turned into a mini-cinema for the afternoon, offering free screenings of a popular Disney film promoting looking after the planet and each-other! There will be free popcorn and a drink for kids.
You have the option to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea created with locally-sourced produce for the whole family (£15 adult, £10 child) before the film begins.
Holiday Inn Express also have a special stay offer for Our Future Starts Here audiences…if you stay overnight on Friday 26 May ready for all the action the next day, or on Saturday 27 to make the most of the weekend, you can do so for just £50 for a family room for up to four people, including breakfast. Those staying the night can either enjoy the day-time film sessions will have the option to watch the film from 6.30pm as part of their evening in Grimsby, when the bar menu will be available.
Afternoon tea and / or the hotel stay can be booked by contacting the hotel directly in person, or by phone on 01472 80600 or by email: reception@hiexpressgrimsby.com quoting OFSH. Car parking available (charge applies).
SUNDAY 28 MAY
Family Freshney Wildlife Walk for all ages, with the Canoe River Cleaner
10am
Meet at Garth Lane bridge
We invite you on a walk with the Canoe River Cleaner which will include a brief history of the Freshney, an overview of the wildlife resident there and a nature i-spy for the kids. Give back to nature afterwards by joining in with a litter pick, ending up at Grimsby in Bloom for a cuppa. Includes a duck feeding session with feed supplied by Haiths.
