AN EVENTS company responsible for staging a series of spectacular visual art shows has been hired to spearhead this year's Freedom Festival.
Salford creative firm Walk The Plank will mastermind the annual event, which will take place over the weekend of September 6 to 8.
The company was chosen from a five-strong shortlist by a new-look board set up earlier this year to manage the festival.
Board chairman Graham Chesters said: "We are very happy to have Walk The Plank onboard for this year's Freedom Festival.
"We had more than 70 requests for details after advertising for an artistic director for this year's festival and received five top quality applications, four of which were from well-established events companies.
"Walk The Plank were chosen because of their outstanding track record in staging international-scale events.
"We have made them an offer, they have accepted and hopefully contracts will be in place by next week."
Mr Chesters said the firm was initially being hired to deliver this year's festival but with an option to continue working in Hull for the next two years, subject to future funding being secured.
The company is behind one of the major events in Derry's 2013 UK City of Culture programme – an outdoor street parade telling the story of the city in conjunction with Olympic Games opening ceremony writer Frank Cottrell Boyce.
It was also responsible for waterfront fireworks display which officially launched the celebrations in Derry on New Year's Eve.
Other previous work has included the annual Winter Carnival in Newcastle, Liverpool's European City of Culture in 2008 and a two-day outdoor festival in Derby.
The new-look Freedom board was recruited after Hull City Council decided to hand over responsibility for running the festival to a new charitable trust.
Funding will continue to be provided by the city council and the Arts Council.
Mr Chesters said: "We are all looking forward to making sure this year's festival is a success.
"The new board features a nice mix of experience with an healthy injection of youthful enthusiasm.
"More details will be confirmed about the festival over the next few months."
• Picture gallery: Freedom Festival 2012
