Right on your Sofa
We adapted quickly to the country being thrown into lockdown in March 2020. Working with our known and trusted performers, we flipped the delivery model from Right on your Doorstep – taking the arts to local streets, shopping centres and venues in the heart of Hull neighbourhoods – to Right on Your Sofa, an online programme taking experiences directly to people’s screens and homes.
Across lockdown we hosted over 70 events online streamed live through either our Facebook page or YouTube channel. We introduced a regular Monday night Bedtime Story for families to gather round and watch, a Friday evening gig – music and singers across all genres, poetry, and even a Circus on your Sofa – and artist takeover days from Studio McGuire (our digital partners), The Herd (our associate theatre company), Lydia Caprani (the artist on our Bilton Grange Mural Project and illustrator of our beautiful children’s activity book for lockdown) and Lost in Translation (one of our circus partners).
Other things you might have seen Right on your Sofa from us include Shindig on your Sofa, Secret Gig on your Sofa, The Dean Wilson Film Club, The Christmas Card – eventually coming to life as our Winter Parade in Southcoates, Marfleet, Orchard Park & North Hull and Derringham -, and Black Kings Upon Hull.
Data gathered and independently analysed by Ruth Melville Research for our annual 2020 evaluation report confirmed that in 2020 alone we delivered 671 hours of programmed activity through 211 activities and events, including:
- 24 live streamed digital shows;
- 8 digital Artist Takeovers with 47,354 views;
- 33 Bedtime Stories (Facebook/YouTube) with 31,192 views;
- 24,106 people actively engaged with the programme as volunteers, project participants, Hub members, or live online audience members;
- 70 active Hub members meeting weekly through lockdowns for chats and quizzes;
- 1747 volunteer hours given in support of the programme, with an estimated value of £15,226.
Our lockdown programme was chosen by Darren Henley as one of his top picks of the year, and our Bedtime Stories still get thousands of views – over 61,000 and counting! We’re proud of our role in supporting Hull’s arts sector throughout the pandemic, creating paid work opportunities for over 100 artists and freelancers.