Following the success of last year’s event, The Future is Now Festival returns to Queen’s Hall in Hexham on Saturday 9 May, bringing together local organisations, environmental experts and the community for a day of inspiration, discussion and action.
Celebrating the strong community spirit of Hexham and the surrounding area, this year’s programme has been developed by a dedicated Steering Group with the support of the Queen’s Hall team and Hexham Library, and shines a spotlight on the work of local groups committed to environmental action. The festival also features a series of new documentary screenings designed to spark conversation and encourage positive change.
The day begins with a welcome from Helen Mills (Queen’s Hall Arts) and Maggie Mound (Divest Tyne and Wear), followed by a vibrant programme of free activities running throughout the venue. Visitors can explore a wide range of stalls hosted by local organisations in the Library and Gallery spaces, offering information, resources and opportunities to get involved.
Helen Mills, Sales & Audience Manager at Queen’s Hall explained: “The Future is Now Festival is a real celebration of the passion there is in Hexham and it’s surround areas for environmental action. This year’s festival creates a welcoming space to connect, learn and feel empowered to take positive action. I’m also incredibly grateful to the dedicated Steering Group whose time, ideas and expertise have helped shape such an inspiring programme.”
Highlights of the programme include Balancing the Scales, a visually striking documentary from the Beaver Trust exploring the complex relationship between beavers and migratory fish, and People’s Emergency Briefing, a powerful film addressing the climate and nature crisis, featuring contributions from Chris Packham, leading scientists and public figures. The screening will be followed by a live discussion hosted by Gill Turner.
In the afternoon, audiences can watch The Cost of Growth, which follows climate activists across Europe as they document grassroots resistance to extractive industries and explore wider global issues of justice, democracy and environmental impact.
Alongside the film programme, the festival also offers a family-friendly guided cycle ride from Queen’s Hall to Warden and back, organised by local cycling groups, providing an opportunity to engage with active travel initiatives in the area.
Stallholders at this year’s festival include Active Travel Tynedale CIC, Hexham Climate Café, Divest Tyne and Wear, Environment Agency, Extinction Rebellion Tynedale, Hexham Space for Nature, Love Our Tyne, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Peat Partnership, RHS (National Education Nature Park), Stop Flights Doubling, The Missing Lynx Project, Tyne Rivers Trust and Vattenfall Wind Power.
Audiences are invited to come along, connect with local initiatives and be inspired by the small actions we can all take to make a difference - both locally and globally.
The festival is free to attend, with tickets only required for film screenings. Donations are welcomed to help cover the cost of this and future proof further The Future is Now Festivals going forward.
