18/12/2024

Freedom Studios Closing Statement

With great sadness, the board of trustees announces the closure of Freedom Studios.

Freedom Studios was established in 2007 as a new writing theatre company based in Bradford and became known for celebrating the voices of South Asian and ethnically diverse people, young people and working class communities.

In 2023, the charity lost its place on the Arts Council England National Portfolio, negatively impacting its finances. Despite this challenge, the charity managed to raise new funds to continue to successfully deliver impactful programmes including Bradford Voices. However, Freedom Studios struggled to secure new funding in this precarious climate, threatening its solvency. The trustees have taken the extremely difficult decision to begin winding down the charity in an orderly fashion. It is anticipated this work will continue until the end of the current financial year.

Our original mission to pioneer the voice of our communities through plays, new writing and co-creation remains as important as ever. We leave a hole in the sector which sadly lacks new writing and talent development opportunities, and hope there is the opportunity for others to take up this space in our stead.

We would like to thank each of our creatives, participants, staff and funders for being part of the Freedom Studios story over the years.

Legacy

As part of our legacy, we encourage you to explore the resources below, which include creative works, youth theatre performances, and our recent showcase. We would also love to hear from you—please feel free to share your memories, photos, or reflections on your time with Freedom Studios. You can share them with us on socials or send them to us via hello@freedomstudios.co.uk so we can celebrate the impact of the company as we draw to a close.

Bradford Voices Showcase 2024

Bradford Voices Showcase: It’s a Waterful Life!

Bradford Voices Showcase: Service with a Smile

Bradford Voices Showcase: Sicilian Defence

Bradford Voices Showcase: Voices of Bradford – A Spoken Word Mockumentary

Bradford Voices Showcase: You Got Bars

Bradford Voices Showcase: Small Protests

Bradford Voices Showcase: Fairweather Enemies or Trapped in a Coal Cellar

FSY Tube

FSYTube: 10 Top Tip For Making A Film At Home

FSYTube: Types of Film Shot made Simple

FSYTube: Story Structure in Film