Frequency Festival will exhibit works both digitally and in real-world encounters located around Lincoln's historic centre. The artworks touch upon the environment, digital inequity and re-emerging from the pandemic.  The in-person events will include installations, live performances and exhibitions, showcasing the invention and creativity of artists, designers and technologists working together. After the separation imposed between communities and their public spaces, during Covid-19, Frequency Festival seeks to bring them back together by innovating outdoor spaces for people to enjoy in a new way.  

Frequency Festival offers its visitors a different way to explore Lincoln. With the festival events located all around the city, the festival offers the chance to wander the picturesque streets of Lincoln, while discovering new artists. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in both the festival and the historic sights of Lincoln during the four-day event.  

Uzma Johal MBE, Director, Threshold Studios said: “Frequency Festival is the cultural heartbeat of the amazing city of Lincoln. The pandemic has changed us all forever and, after much careful consideration alongside our city partners, we have decided to proceed with this year's festival. We want to make sure we can welcome visitors safely, without losing the spirit of play and curiosity that Frequency is famous for. Our audiences embrace adventure and love to discover new things, and in new ways. Now, with the theme of Connection for our 10th anniversary festival, we will go on a new adventure with them.” 

Sam Lindley, Director of Programmes, Threshold Studios said: “It is 10 years since the first festival and now in 2021 after the unprecedented year we've all faced, it feels important for an event like Frequency to welcome people back into the city. We want to give people an opportunity to feel some joy in seeing art in the city again.” 

The inaugural Frequency Festival was a part of the Igniting Ambition Festival 2011, a Cultural Olympiad programme in the East Midlands. The festival in the past has brought record numbers of visitors to Lincoln and contributed an estimated £1.9 million to the local economy since 2015.   

Professor Mary Stuart CBE, Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, said: 

“As one of the founding partners, I am very proud to be supporting Frequency Festival's return in this, its 10th year. From the very beginning, we set out to connect with the city, with audiences and with each other, as cultural partners. This year's theme of Connection couldn't be more fitting.” 

Simon Walters, Director for Communities and Environment at City of Lincoln Council said: “As Lincoln gets back to normal after the pandemic we are looking forward to Frequency Festival injecting its trademark vibrancy and dynamism into the heart of this historic city. We are working closely with Threshold Studios and our other partners to ensure the safety of residents and visitors as we welcome all to this exciting event during the autumn half-term.” 

Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England, said:  

“Frequency Festival combines experiences in the fantastic medieval surroundings of Lincoln with futuristic visual technology. It brings some of the best contemporary digital art to the heart of the historic city as well as marking an important milestone in the cultural recovery following Covid. This 10th-year anniversary edition will inspire more people to embrace culture through technology giving audiences the opportunity to attend in person or to enjoy the experience virtually.” 

Charlotte Goy, Chief Executive, Visit Lincoln, said: 

“It's going to be incredible because we have a world-class city working with a world-class team delivering Frequency Festival 2021. This festival will attract people from all over the country thanks to the line-up of artists we have coming to Lincoln, and it will be a welcome boost to the local economy. It's a chance for residents, communities, businesses and city partners to work together and reset the cultural and arts programme that Lincoln will host in the future.” 

Frequency Festival was developed by leading creative and cultural agency Threshold Studios in 2011 as part of the Cultural Olympiad funding for the city of Lincoln. The festival hosts a commissioned programme of digital artistic interventions in non-traditional spaces and is free and open to all.  

Frequency Festival takes place in Lincoln from 28-31st of October 2021. For more information go to: https://www.visitlincoln.com/whats-on/frequency 

Accommodation and Getting There: 

The White Hart Hotel is on the doorstep of the Castle and Cathedral. As well as boasting fantastic views of Lincoln, the White Hart Hotel has an award-winning bar and restaurant, frequented by locals for their range of amazing cocktails. Rates for a double room start at £95 per night. 

The luxury, retro Lincoln Hotel, is located in Lincoln's Cathedral area, giving stunning views to its guests. With two restaurants and a hotel bar, The Lincoln Hotel is ideal for leisure visitors to lincoln. Rates for a double room start at £72.25 per night. 

Via the LNER railway line, Lincoln is just a 1 hour and 55-minute trip away from London King's Cross. Trains depart every two hours. Tickets start from £36 for a day return. 

Editors Notes: 

For media enquiries for Visit Lincoln, please contact the LOTUS team at lincoln@wearelotus.co.uk 

Photo credits:

Left: Continuity, Nadya Monfrinoli and Robin Williamson at Frequency Festival 2019. Photo credit Electric Egg.

Right: Halo Illumaphonium at Frequency 2019. Photo credit Electric Egg. 

Credit:

Frequency Festival is produced by Threshold Studios, in partnership with the University of Lincoln and supported using public funding by Arts Council England. The event is a city wide collaboration between public sector organisations and support from the business community.

About Frequency Festival 

Frequency is an international festival of digital creativity, hosted biennially in the historic city of Lincoln. In October half-term, Lincoln's medieval cobbled streets and unexpected venues across the city become a digital playground. New and innovative works by emerging and established artists and creative technologists showcase the best creative talent from across the globe; with immersive exhibitions and interactive experiences open to all. Frequency is a platform for celebrating the pioneering spirit of digital innovation; sparking debates on digital culture, nurturing talent within the creative industries, and inspiring the digital creative in us all. Since launching in 2011 Frequency has hosted over 450 local, national and international artists, exhibiting their work to over 75,000 visitors. 

www.frequency.org.uk  

About Threshold 

Threshold Studios is a creative media organisation working with artists and new and emerging technologies; specialising in the production and exhibition of digital, moving image and public realm works. Established in 1998, Threshold Studios is a social enterprise and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, enabling partnerships across the arts, digital and creative media industries, the public sector, grassroots communities and higher education. www.thresholdstudios.tv  

About Arts Council England 

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let's Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk  

About the University of Lincoln 

The University of Lincoln has been crowned Modern University of the Year in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021. The University was awarded Gold – the highest standard possible - in the national Teaching Excellence Framework, an independent assessment of teaching quality in UK higher education. The award reflects our exciting teaching, great support for students and excellent employment outcomes. The University is known for a pioneering approach to working with employers, which has been recognised with a Lord Stafford Award and Times Higher Education Award. More than half of our research is judged to be internationally excellent or world-leading (Research Excellence Framework). www.lincoln.ac.uk  

About City of Lincoln Council 

City of Lincoln Council is a high-performing and innovative organisation, focused on providing quality services and delivering outcomes that matter. Our focus is on driving economic growth, delivering quality housing, reducing inequality, addressing the challenge of climate change and enhancing our remarkable place. These priorities are integral in helping ensure Lincoln remains a fantastic place to live, work, study and visit. They are also the drivers behind encouraging a creative and innovative mind-set that ensures Lincoln is an exciting place to be. In recent years, our vibrant cathedral city has embraced change while respecting its rich heritage. We have attracted significant investment, which has had a positive effect on the greater Lincolnshire economy and helped drive the city and county forward. By working in partnership with communities, stakeholders and businesses we are helping build the foundation for Lincoln's ambitious future and ensuring we make a positive difference to the city and its residents in everything we do.  

We are very proud to be Lincoln. www.lincoln.gov.uk 

About Visit Lincoln 

Visit Lincoln is the official destination management organisation for Lincoln and the surrounding area. A partnership of private, public, and third sector organisations. It's our aim to raise awareness of Lincoln as a great place to visit, study, meet and invest. www.visitlincoln.com