“It wouldn’t have been possible anywhere else” - Back to Ours: A Homegrown Cultural Movement

Powered by the belief that “art is for everyone”, creative powerhouse Back to Ours in Hull is breaking down barriers in more ways than one.

Culture, Reimagined

Reimagining how culture is defined, created, and shared, Back to Ours is powered by community. Its model turns traditional cultural experiences on its head, placing neighbourhoods, not venues, at the centre of its vision. 

With a place-based arts programme, they take culture beyond the walls of traditional arts venues, transforming community spaces into extraordinary stages. Their community-led arts approach also puts Hull residents at the centre of the creative process, giving local people a genuine voice in shaping and creating the cultural programme.

Making accessibility the foundation of its work, not an afterthought, Back to Ours delivers authentic arts engagement that resonates across Hull. Through real experiences created by and for real people, Back to Ours has reached hundreds of thousands of audience members, including people who may have previously faced barriers to engaging with the arts.

Cultural Connections

People, places, and the connections between us are the beating heart of this remarkable homegrown cultural organisation, as Back to Ours’ Artistic Director and CEO, Louise Yates, explains:

“It’s never a one-size-fits-all approach, and we develop projects with a lot of care. We spend a lot of time as a team getting to know a place and its people, especially on a new project. 

“When you genuinely connect with people and a place, you build trust. With that comes the responsibility of managing relationships and boundaries. It can’t just be about what Back to Ours wants; there has to be an exchange to work out the creative direction. That can take time, so we keep returning, having conversations and trying out new ideas.”

Back to Ours harnesses the power of culture to bring people together and strengthen connections, creating a strong sense of place. Their work illustrates the relationship between culture and community in Humber, showing how creativity can shape local identity and create meaningful experiences. 

Louise said: “We tell our past, present and future stories through culture. It can define a place and shape its identity, increasing pride and value in place.

“Humber’s vibrant culture includes festivals, theatres, galleries, markets, museums, events, and projects which share our unique heritage, traditions, and stories. This creates a sense of belonging and connections for local people and gives visitors a unique memorable experience.”

By bringing people together, fostering a sense of belonging, and helping individuals feel connected, culture can have a profound impact on wellbeing, as Louise explains:

“Arts and culture isn’t just nice to have or an add on, I think it’s essential. I’ve seen it change people’s lives. I’ve watched people go from not talking to anyone one day to becoming part of a group the next, advocating for their community, making projects happen right on their street.

“We live in a society that can be very stressful and isolating. Arts and culture brings joy and happiness to our lives. The impact that has on our mental and physical health is massive.”

Revolution in Action

The roots of the Hull arts charity stretch back to 2012, when Louise saw the potential of the city’s new schools, built as part of Building Schools for the Future, to be utilised as a touring circuit. Driven by her belief that art should reach everyone and create equal opportunities to engage and participate, Louise formed the vision that would define Back to Ours: to bring high-quality performances directly into neighbourhoods across Hull. The idea developed, going on to become part of the city’s year of culture programme, then a Creative People and Places Project, and now a fully-fledged cultural charity.

Louise said: “I didn’t imagine the project ever becoming a charity and growing in the way it has. I simply wanted to engage more people in the arts by getting touring shows into Hull communities. Working with partners to utilise community assets like schools, community centres, and social clubs, alongside building relationships with residents and artists has been a huge part of the success of Back to Ours.”

With its commitment to making the arts accessible to everyone, delivering world-class performances right on people's doorsteps, and creating culture with communities, not just for them, Back to Ours has earnt recognition as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Which means they form part of a select tier of cultural bodies, such as premier galleries, major museums, libraries, and theatre companies, deemed to be of vital strategic importance to the UK's cultural landscape.

Our City, Hull Through and Through

That sense of pride in place shaped 2026's Our City event. The first in a new annual series of mass community events, it showcased Back to Ours' collaborative approach. Developed by Hull, for Hull, more than 1,500 residents helped create this celebration of the city, its people, and its stories.

Featuring four ‘Show Globes’, more than 1,000 residents taking part in processions, over 500 local people performing in shows, and a spectacular evening finale with a live band, choirs, and fireworks, Our City was a free, day-long celebration that “couldn't have happened anywhere else”, says Louise:

“The people that live and work here know this city better than anyone, and they love sharing stories about it. These conversations set the tone for the themes of the evening show, including family, humour, sport, music, and spirituality. Over 60 community groups took part with 1,500 participants. I don’t think those numbers, and that level of involvement in just 5 months, has been done anywhere else. We couldn’t just take this event to another place, it wouldn’t resonate the same, it was Hull through and through.     

“Standing in Queen Victoria Square as the procession arrived back and the show began, you could feel the love for this city. You could feel the connection, even hear it, as people cheered during local artist Russ Litten’s performance. It was magical.”

Cultural Changemakers

Our City is one example of the transformative experiences that earned the accessible arts Hull charity a Future Humber Changemaker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Culture and the Community. The award celebrates Back to Ours’ revolutionary approach, demonstrating what happens when creativity, community, and place come together with purpose.

Louise sees the award as a reflection of everything Back to Ours stands for: 

“Receiving Future Humber's Changemaker Award recognised not just our work, but the power of community-led culture to bring people together and strengthen our region. Our City embodies exactly that: art that's accessible, joyful, and created by and for the people who call this place home.”

For Louise, it all comes back to people. 

“I’ve always put people at the centre of Back to Ours. They’ve shaped its future. The organisation will keep evolving as we continue to engage with more people. I’m as passionate now about arts and culture reaching everyone as I was when this all started in 2012. 

“Bringing people together to experience something new and exciting is what still drives me.”