The Day The City Split In Two / A River Full Of Stories
The Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories memory sharing days on the river and at Hull Maritime Museum have been terrific, with fascinating conversations about days gone by working and living on the River Hull. Here's former lighterman Keith Eastwood in conversation with Russ Litten. Filmed in September 2018 by Humber Film Creative Community … Continue reading The life of a Lighterman
The Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories memory sharing days on the river and at Hull Maritime Museum have been amazing, with fascinating conversations about days gone by working and living on the River Hull. We have learned about evocative, moving and entertaining memories from tales of using highly skilled local knowledge to navigate … Continue reading Rugby on Board
Open Bridges objectives were to celebrate the River Hull and explore the meaning of freedom by splitting the city in two, momentarily denying the freedom of movement east and west across the city, by raising and closing all 13 bridges over the River Hull simultaneously for the first and only time in the city’s history. … Continue reading Open Bridges Radio Transcript
Stop Press: Open Bridges made history when for the first, and only time, all 13 of the bridges over the River Hull raised, swung or closed simultaneously splitting the city of Hull in two at 20:17 hours on the autumn equinox, 22nd September 2017. Open Bridges Hull: “A truly memorable evening when we all worked together … Continue reading Open Bridges First Anniversary
Open Bridges Anniversary and launch of A River Full Of Stories Saturday 22nd September at Kardomah94, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull, HU1 2AN. Doors 7.30 pm, free entry. Come and join us celebrating the first anniversary of Open Bridges Anniversary & the launch of the new project Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories. There will … Continue reading Open Bridges Anniversary Event
Open Bridges: A River Full Of Stories – gathering stories to preserve the heritage of the River Hull, its bridges and the people and vessels which have used it over the years. Following on from visiting the north and north-western sources of the River Hull, last weekend we followed the river’s tributaries north-east to Skipsea and … Continue reading Skipsea – Isle of Ships
You can see the award winning Open Bridges film on board the Motor Barge Syntan during Hull Folk and Maritime Festival, on 28th and 29th July 2018. The historic and beautifully restored Syntan will be moored in Hull Marina for the festival. There is folk music galore all weekend at the festival, head along to … Continue reading Open Bridges Film at Hull Folk Festival
Thanks to everyone who voted for the Open Bridges film trailer. We are very pleased to say it has now been selected from over 1,000 submissions from around the world, and will be shown at the 2018 Bulwell Arts Festival on Sunday 8th July where the overall winners will be chosen. It's open to the … Continue reading Open Bridges Film at Nottingham Film Festival
Thank you to everybody who came to the live quadraphonic performance of the Open Bridges music – ‘Moments in Time’ – by the composer John Stead to accompany the Open Bridges film at Beverley Art Gallery on the Summer Solstice 2018. We were delighted to welcome Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant for the East Riding of … Continue reading Summer Solstice Musique Concrète
There will be a live quadraphonic performance of the Open Bridges music – ‘Moments in Time’ - by the composer John Stead to accompany the Open Bridges film at Beverley Treasure House and Art Gallery, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Thursday, 21 June, at 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm start. The event will be finished by … Continue reading Open Bridges Summer Solstice ‘Moments in Time’ Live Performance
We opened the Open Bridges exhibition inside Scale Lane Bridge for a group from the Carnegie Heritage Centre and had a lovely morning, thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone there. Thanks to Stephen Ingram for this fascinating souvenir of the opening of North Bridge in 1931. If you click on each image you should be able to … Continue reading Souvenir of the Opening of North Bridge in 1931
Press release from East Riding of Yorkshire Council issued on behalf of Open Bridges: 'Stunning' Open Bridges film showcase at Beverley Art Gallery A ‘stunning and unique’ film documenting the day Hull was split in two by the Open Bridges project will be screened in the Art Gallery at Beverley’s Treasure House this month. The … Continue reading ‘Stunning’ Open Bridges film showcase at Beverley Art Gallery
The Open Bridges exhibition had its last day inside Scale Lane Bridge before we finalise its next home. We've been open every Saturday in January and February and welcomed 2000 visitors.Thanks to James Hoggarth and Sally Fairfax for inviting us to BBC Radio Humberside this morning to talk about the project and exhibition. Lots of … Continue reading Thanks Everyone!
This is a view of Hull Tidal Barrier never seen before, the latest of Rich's 'Engines and Insects' photographic images for Open Bridges. Rich took the original photograph of the underside of the Tidal Barrier from the deck of the MV Syntan as they sailed down the river for the Open Bridges test run. The images … Continue reading Hull Tidal Barrier Takes Flight
Cool to see this post in Graffiti Street, international urban art website, unravelling the Banksy artwork in Hull. Click to read the feature: The Open Bridges public exhibition opened inside Scale Lane Bridge and welcomed 2000 visitors on Saturdays early in 2018. As the Open Bridges exhibition was coming to a close a new street … Continue reading Unravelling Banksy
We’ve had many visitors to the Open Bridges exhibition at Scale Lane Bridge and many fascinating conversations with local people who’ve worked the river for years as well as visitors from out of town. One of the recurring themes is the importance and the beauty of the river Hull from different perspectives such as "it’s … Continue reading Bridge Exhibition Notes #1
Open Bridges Hull - excerpts of Moments in Time, the world premiere of the live musique concrete diffusion for Open Bridges by John Stead. Autumn equinox 2017 A ghostly view of the world premiere of the new acousmatic composition for Open Bridges. Electro Acoustic Ensemble director, John diffused the live music featuring found sounds of … Continue reading A Ghostly View
Due to popular demand the Open Bridges exhibition at Scale Lane Bridge is extended to Saturdays during February (3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th) 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. Free entry. All welcome, come and have a look round. The exhibition covers all elements of Open Bridges and art photography exhibition of Open Bridges images inspired by Horst … Continue reading Open Bridges Exhibition Extended to Saturdays in February
We had a magical evening at the first Open Bridges film night on board the splendid Super Sloop Spider T last night. Rich & I met up with honoured guest Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant for the East Riding of Yorkshire to view the Open Bridges exhibition at Scale Lane Bridge. Following the exhibition viewing we made … Continue reading Film Night on board Spider T
We're half way through the Open Bridges exhibition Saturdays inside Hull's Scale Lane Bridge, and it's been another great day with a continual flow of visitors and some fascinating conversations. The panel depicting the transcript of the conversations from ship to shore, bridge operators and event control on the night as the city was split … Continue reading Radio Transcript
Open Bridge exhibition open this Saturday, free entry, come and say hello! #openbridgeshull
Open Bridges First Saturday Exhibition Great first Saturday of the Open Bridges exhibition inside Scale Lane Bridge today. We had a continual flow of people looking round all day, many of whom said they came along because they heard us on BBC Radio Humberside this morning, so thanks to James Hoggarth and Sally Fairfax for … Continue reading All Welcome to the Exhibition
Thanks to Amelia Grace aka Amelia in Hull for her fab review of the Open Bridges film and exhibition launch. Have a look and a click round Amelia's excellent blog while you're there. The exhibition is open to the public inside Hull's Scale Lane Bridge, free entry on Saturdays during January (6th, 13th, 20th and … Continue reading ‘Open Bridges’ Film and Exhibition by Amelia in Hull
We are delighted with the launch of the Open Bridges film and exhibition yesterday, thanks to the whole team! It was a packed house at Kardomah94 to see the film and then over to Scale Lane Bridge for the opening for the exhibition. The Open Bridges film is made by Humber Film Creative Community and Octovision … Continue reading Open Bridges Film and Exhibition Launch
We are delighted to announce the public opening of the Open Bridges exhibition at Scale Lane Bridge on Sunday 10th December 2017 11.00 am, including a bridge swing. All welcome. Following the launch the exhibition is open to the public free entry on Saturdays during January (6th, 13th, 20th and 27th) and February (3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th) … Continue reading Open Bridges Exhibition and Film
Open Bridges: For the first time in the city’s history all 13 of Hull’s bridges raised, swung or closed simultaneously splitting the city in two at 20:17 hours on the autumnal equinox 2017 during Hull City of Culture’s Freedom Season. These stunning stills from Octovision Media's drone footage show the powerful tugs with search lights … Continue reading Shots from the Night Sky
Operationally the logistics required to make Open Bridges happen presented many challenges. Every challenge was overcome and when the city had separated and reunited, and the vessels sailed out into the darkness of the Humber, the world premiere of John Stead's new musique concrète work took place before a capacity audience at Hull's Stage at … Continue reading Open Bridges Jigsaw
"Open Bridges - on the night all the different components came together like the meshing of gears, working as one" Mal Nicholson HMS Pickle Our final Open Bridges workshop session was held aboard the Spider T, Mal Nicholson's wonderful 62ft Humber sloop. Thanks to Mal for the hospitality aboard the Spider. Open Bridges team members Iain Campbell … Continue reading Spider T Session
Thanks to Paul Escreet, Graham Hackney, Vince and Tim of SMS Towage for an eye-opening tour of Alexandra dry dock and a visit to The Scotsman undergoing her 5 yearly scheduled 'MOT'. SMS Towage Scotsman photographs by Richard Duffy-Howard When we saw the tugs and the brand new SMS Superman at Open Bridges waiting in … Continue reading SMS Towage Scotsman
Open Bridges Hull: "A truly memorable evening when we all worked together to overcome the odds and produce something spectacular. Thanks to all that made this possible and to our VIP guests" HMS Pickle Captain Mal Nicholson There were so many adventures during Open Bridges, and everyone who was part of it had a different … Continue reading Open Bridges Adventures
We were delighted when BAFTA winning composer John Stead accepted our request to compose a new musical work as the culmination of Open Bridges to take place during the freedom season of Hull's City of Culture year. The world premiere of John's piece, Moments in Time was a wonderful, quite surreal experience. The music, diffused … Continue reading Moments in Time by John Stead
It was great to see Brett at Open Bridges. We bumped into each other again at Douglas Dunn's poetry reading at Hull Central Library this week and he gave us a bookful of the illustrations he drew while he was at Open Bridges. If you were there, you may have seen Brett constantly sketching what … Continue reading Illustrations by Brett Hambling
All 13 bridges over the River Hull closed simultaneously for the first and only time in the city’s history – at 20:17 on the autumnal equinox 2017. Stories, observations, reflections, sketches and film and photographs have been flowing in. Adventures from different perspectives. The Open Bridges exhibition will showcase these to enable everyone to see … Continue reading Open Bridges from HMS Pickle
All 13 bridges over the River Hull closed simultaneously for the first and only time in the city's history – at 20:17 on the autumnal equinox 2017.
Stop Press: All 13 bridges over the River Hull closed simultaneously for the first and only time in the city’s history – at 20:17 on the autumnal equinox 2017. High fives to everyone in the Open Bridges Team and everybody who came to the Stage@The Dock. The vessels were awesome, the concert sold out and was … Continue reading We Did It!
Hull – Friday 22nd September 2017 #OpenBridgesHull Open Bridges is a whole tapestry of threads. It's a celebration of the lifeblood of the city, the River Hull and its 13 movable bridges, more than any other city. Beautiful historic vessels representing three centuries are met by powerful 21st century tugs. It’s an exploration of the … Continue reading Tapestry of Threads
Click Here to Explore All of Hull's River Bridges Hull is top of the list in that no other city has so many opening bridges over such a short distance of navigable river. There are thirteen bridges and all of them swing or lift to open to river traffic. All the bridges - road, rail or … Continue reading Hull’s 13 Bridges
Open Bridges is a whole tapestry of threads. It's a celebration of Hull’s lifeblood, the River Hull, 13 movable bridges, the vessels that use the river and the heritage & culture that have grown up in both East and West Hull. Open Bridges marks the vital role bridges play in our everyday lives with a … Continue reading Vessels Representing Four Centuries
Open Bridges: We are very pleased to get a mention in The Times today. “Just occasionally things go right and the cynics are confounded. There were plenty of the latter around when run down and much maligned Hull was announced as City Of Culture for 2017. Yet with the year two-thirds over, the results are … Continue reading National News
Open Bridges includes a series of workshops hosted by Lou Duffy-Howard with creative writers Christina Lewis and Russ Litten who are working with schools, prison, hospice and community venues to explore freedom and the impact of freedoms denied in the world today. Novelist Russ Litten and I spent a great afternoon with a group from … Continue reading Willerby Library Workshop
Open Bridges Hull: For the first time in Hull’s history the city will be split in two when all Hull’s 13 bridges will be simultaneously raised or barriered, momentarily denying the freedom of movement east or west across the River Hull. On September 22nd Open Bridges will signify the vital role bridges play in our … Continue reading Music Premiere Composer’s Notes
Vessels representing four centuries are part of Open Bridges. The schooner HMS Pickle will sail down the River Hull and into the Humber Estuary as part of the Open Bridges journey. Captain of the HMS Pickle Mal Nicholson and his wife Val were recently invited by the Royal Navy to meet and cement the relationship between … Continue reading HMS Pickle
Open Bridges: For the first time in Hull’s history the city will be split in two when all Hull’s 13 bridges will be simultaneously raised or barriered, momentarily denying the freedom of movement east or west across the River Hull. On September 22nd Open Bridges will signify the vital role bridges play in our everyday … Continue reading SMS Towage Englishman
Open Bridges includes a series of workshops hosted by Lou Duffy-Howard with creative writers Christina Lewis and Russ Litten who are working with schools, prison, hospice and community venues to explore freedom and the impact of freedom denied in the world today. September 1st 2017: Novelist Russ Litten and I spent a fabulous afternoon at Dove House Hospice with … Continue reading Dove House Hospice Workshop
We’re delighted to be working with Octovision Media, astonishing aerial shots, qualified pilots, breathtaking images, and from Hull. We love this amazing film of Stoneferry Bridges like you’ve never seen before for Open Bridges. Open Bridges: For the first time in Hull’s history the city will be split in two when all Hull’s 13 bridges will … Continue reading Kaleido-Bridges
The beautifully restored Humber Keel COMRADE will sail down the River Hull and into the Humber Estuary as part of the Open Bridges journey. Find out about the COMRADE from Humber Keel COMRADE’s Sailing Master, John Medland's biography of the vessel: "The steel hulled barge originally named Wanda was built in 1923 by Warren's Shipyard … Continue reading Humber Keel Comrade
We had a wonderful morning visiting the M.V. Syntan, the beautiful barge which is going to journey down the River Hull from Beverley Beck for Open Bridges on September 22nd. The former working barge, originally built in 1949 and owned by Richard Hodgson's Tannery has been carefully renovated after being laid up for 20 years. … Continue reading Visit to M.V. Syntan
Open Bridges includes a series of workshops hosted by creative writers Lou Duffy-Howard, Christina Lewis and Russ Litten who are working with schools, prisons and community venues to explore freedom and the impact of withholding freedom considering notions of East and West, left and right, separation and connection, difference and similarity. One of our favourite schools, … Continue reading Open Bridges Workshop Withernsea High
Open Bridges is creating and documenting fascinating sights and sounds only ever seen by bridge operators and shipping companies. Some of the photographic images are taken from open bridges and some from the movements within bridges as they’re being operated for river traffic. Some of the photographs are more abstract. They’re inspired by famous 20th … Continue reading Open Bridges Photography
We're working with our Open Bridges team to put the various parts together - the bridges, the river journey, the music premiere, and we've started the workshop programme. Pearson Primary School was the destination for our first Open Bridges workshop last week. Creative writer Christina Lewis and I spent the morning with Miss Northen's year … Continue reading Open Bridges Workshop Pearson Primary