As dusk fell, visitors made their way onto campus and towards the University Library, whose exterior was transformed into a glowing digital mosaic made from images contributed by the public. The mosaic formed a giant, moving portrait of what freedom means today, including a rainbow-lit Lincoln Cathedral and a striking image of two soldiers dancing on VE Day who were members of the Commonwealth of Nations. These images were set against readings from the International Bomber Command Centre’s Digital Archive, including letters from prisoners of war.  

A hush fell upon the campus as the sounds of remembrance mixed with the quiet murmur of people pausing to listen – strangers sharing a collective moment of reflection. 

Across the square, hundreds gathered to experience the main public artwork, the Lincolnshire Mosaic of Freedom for the first time. This interactive, physical, public artwork, created by artist Allan Levy and built from thousands of photos submitted by people across the county, illuminated the night with colour and conversation. Each image represented what freedom means today or in the past – from children playing, to drawings by children, to street parties on VE Day collected from the Digital Archive Imagery.  

With the press of a button, voices echoed out: a contemporary reflection from a local child, an excerpt from the Lincolnshire Echo on VE Day, or words from Mala Yusef’s stirring speech about the power and freedom an education brings. 

Visitors young and old pointed out familiar faces and places within the mosaic, while BA Music students from University of Lincoln filled the air with live performances. 

 Inside Lincoln Arts Centre, the evening continued with a short celebration hosted by Director of Lincoln Arts Centre Ben Anderson, bringing together the artist, community commissioners, and project partners. The purpose of this session was to uncover the many layers that made Freedom: Then & Now possible. While the public artwork now stands as the finished piece, the project was always about the process. 

Over several months, 60 community participants became 13 community commissioners, working alongside Lincoln Arts Centre to co-design the brief that would later shape the final artwork. Together, they explored what freedom means through creative sessions held across Lincolnshire, from libraries and RAF bases to Health Club/ Each encounter revealed a new perspective, a different understanding of freedom, and these shared insights became the foundation of the artist’s commission that has now been seen by and contributed to by thousands of individuals. 

Contributions from Annabel Weeden (Future Arts Centres) and Alastair Mainland, Trish Ruff (Community Commissioner) shed light on how this process took shape, while Dan Ellin from the International Bomber Command Centre’s Digital Archive reflected on the importance of connecting digital archives to living memory. Two young readers, Florence and Kian from St Peter at Gowts Primary, offered heartfelt readings that reminded everyone why younger generations are central to keeping the idea of freedom alive. 

A particularly moving moment came with the screening of a film by Veronika Provizin, a Ukrainian filmmaker who was able to continue her studies at the University of Lincoln following their interruption as war broke out in Ukraine. Her piece explored what freedom means through the lens of a contemporary and close to home conflict zone, a theme that resonated deeply with many in the room.

The event also featured a newly commissioned poem by the UK Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, and concluded with live music accompanying the another of artist Allen Levy’s digital mosaics, as images of Lincolnshire’s communities notions of freedom played out in light.

 Our Director Ben Anderson reflected:

“In the end, Freedom: Then & Now brought together artists, veterans, school children, refugees, and residents to ask a simple but vital question: ‘what does freedom mean today?’ What made the project truly special wasn’t just the final artwork – as lovely as it was – it was the process behind it. Built layer by layer through genuine community co-design, 60 participants became 13 community commissioners who shaped the brief, led creative sessions, and explored freedom across Lincolnshire. This approach, made possible by funding distributed across 60 arts centres rather than a single big shiny project in London, meant thousands of people contributed and many more experienced the work. Each session revealed new stories and perspectives, and it was this trust in communities to lead that gave the project its depth.” 

The artwork will remain on display throughout November in Library Square. Visitors are invited to explore it and reflect on Lincolnshire’s past and present.