CARLISLE is one of 20 cities across Europe to host a series of online events showcasing local artistic talent as part of the Freiraum Festival.

The festival is a three-day event taking place simultaneously across Europe with the focus being on freedom, Europe, and the state of the arts in the post-corona world.

It is organised by the Goethe-Institut but the event from Carlisle creatives will launch at 2pm today on Facebook.

Johannes Ebert, secretary-general of the Goethe-Institut, said: “What Freiraum means to me is creating and opening up spaces and realms for enduring social cohesion in times of crisis.

“The people involved in Freiraum are setting positive processes of change in motion and thereby leading the way towards a liberal and solidarity-based community in Europe.”

Carlisle is the only city in the UK to host the Freiraum Festival this year.

There will be a performance by Jilly and Geoff from Blue Jam Arts and a reading by Shireen Heme and Linda Fitzgerald in honour of child refugees.

At 2.30pm, there will be an online speak easy that is almost two hours long - it will showcase local poets and writers who have produced pieces reflecting on the pandemic, the theme of freedom, and the arts.

The festival can be viewed on Facebook on the page Freiraum 2020.