Be energised, get out and about and be part of the excitement of Hull’s year as UK City of Culture.
That’s the message to people across the city following the success of this year’s opening event, which saw more than 342,000 attend Sean McAllister’s Made in Hull and the installation of Blade by artist Nayan Kulkarni in Queen Victoria Square.
With hundreds of other events and activities set to take place across the city throughout the year the team at Hull 2017 alongside Hull City Council are encouraging residents to capitalise on the energy and excitement in the city, generated by its first week in the spotlight.
Make It Happen is a five-step campaign that kicks off today (Monday 16 January) on ‘Blue Monday’, reportedly the most depressing day of the year, encouraging people to get active, get involved and feel inspired by their city.
Martin Green, CEO and Director, Hull 2017, said: “There’s real buzz in the city since Hull took centre stage on New Year’s Day. We want everybody to ride the wave of excitement and take an active part in what is going to be an unforgettable year. Don’t sit on your sofa watching it on TV or reading about it on social media, get out and be part of it.”
There are five parts to Make it Happen: Take Notice, Be Active, Connect, Keep Learning and Give.
The first phase, Take Notice, aims to get people to pay attention to things they haven’t before. This could be physical things such as the sights, sounds or smells of the city or less tangible things such as the history of the city or how participating in something makes you feel.
With the installation of Blade, there has never been a better time to get out and take notice of what’s around you. Blade is the first in a series of major art commissions that will be installed in public spaces around Hull as part of Look Up, a year-long programme for Hull 2017 that will see different artists creating temporary artworks designed to make people look at and experience the city in new ways.
The campaign, which runs throughout 2017, is supported by Hull Public Health.
Cllr Gwen Lunn, Portfolio Holder for Public Health at Hull City Council, added:
“Hull 2017 is for everyone. From volunteering at an event to buying a ticket to see a show, there are lots of ways that you can be part of the story. But it’s not all about art and culture, that’s just one part of the story. There are so many other ways that you can get involved and feel good in 2017. From making a small change, reaching out to a neighbour or learning something new in 2017, you may not realise it but you will be playing a part and contributing to the lasting legacy of Hull 2017.”
To find out more, go to: www.hull2017.co.uk/makeithappen
Today also sees the start of week #3 of Challenge Hull. If you’ve got a case of the January blues due to the grey and miserable weather, why not take the time out to inspire somebody to do something? A kind thought can go a long way and the lovely ladies at Hull WI – Apple Crumble and Stitch have thought up a challenge to show exactly that.
‘Create an Inspiring Message’
Do:
Create an inspirational message and post it somewhere – this could be in a public place (no littering or graffiti!), or online on your social media or blog, wherever you wish to spread your kindness, you decide.
If you have a little more time:
Can you alternate where these messages are posted? If you’ve posted them online, perhaps try leaving them in a public space such as your local library or coffee shop. See how many you can share in one day.
Think:
How did you feel writing these motivational messages? What made you decide where to post them? Did you receive any feedback on your kindness?
Share:
Send us photos or clips of your messages within the next 7 days.
