As far back as the 16th Century there has been a market located at Hull’s marina, but it was throughout the 19th and 20th centuries that Humber Street rose to prominence as the third largest market in the UK importing fruit from all over the world.

Join us at Humber Street Gallery this summer as we explore this rich history in Bananarchy!, an interactive exhibition created by artist Pippa Hale. Taking place across two floors, audiences of all ages are invited to un-peel the history of Hull’s historic Fruit Market in an exhibition which prioritises sociality and play.

Bananarchy! will transform the gallery into a costumery reimagining colorful characters from the fruit trade. A nod to the Banana Ripening Stores once housed on the 2nd floor of Humber Street Gallery in the second half of the 20th century, the exhibition encourages you to connect with this evocative element of local history, through imagination and creativity

Pippa Hale is a contemporary artist based in Leeds. Her practice centres around social history, geography and play.  Pippa has previously been commissioned by BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, York Railway Museum, Leeds City Council and more.

Upcoming related events

Paul Schofield – A Surprising History of Humber Street

Thursday 17 July 2025
6-9pm
Humber Street Gallery

£5, booking required

Including the relaunch of Mike Freeman and John Riley’s book ‘The Humber Street Legacy’.

Head on the world premiere of a brand new tour of Humber Street and the surrounding area led by award-winning tour guide Paul Schofield. Starting at Humber Street Gallery, it’s time to find out more about the rich history of this corner of the city.

From its origins along the Humber where ropes were made to its growth into a major street, Humber Street has a surprising history. It was once a thriving hub of pubs, theatres and chapels before developing into the North’s biggest wholesale fruit market. Recently it has grown into a renowned hotbed of independent businesses and creative spaces. A unique place in the city’s landscape.

Paul Schofield is a fully qualified, freelance English Heritage Accredited guide. After receiving a degree from Warwick Univerity he returned to Hull in 1982. He completed a guiding course at Hull University, and has been conducting tours of Hull and Beverley since 1988. He has established strong links with the City Council who have awarded him the inaugral Tourism Enterprise Award and the “extra mile” certificate. He regularly works on behalf of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, and was delighted to win the REYTA Ambassador Award, 2010. Paul also gives numerous illustrated talks on topics of local history, and has co-authored a book on Hull Kingston Rovers.

Mike Freeman followed in his father’s footsteps and worked in the Fruit Trade on Humber Street for over 40 years in roles ranging from Customs Clerk to Sales Director. He was employed by several companies and learned the skills of selling, brokering, importing and wholesaling. He loved his time on the street and subsequently telling its story in ‘The Humber Street Legacy’.

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Friday Bananactivity!

Friday 25 Jul, 1, 8, 22 & 29 August 2025
10:30-12:30pm
Humber Street Gallery

Free, booking required

Pippa Hale’s exhibition Bannanarchy! offers families a free and welcoming space at Humber Street Gallery to come together, be creative and play. Join us every Friday morning during the summer holidays for an informal exhibition tour followed by a creative activity. Friday Bananactivity! Sessions are free and designed for families with children aged 4-11 years.

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Thursday Late: Barry Sykes – Not Laughing Now!

Thursday 4 September 2025
7-9pm
Humber Street Gallery

Free, booking required

In this special event devised to accompany Pippa Hale’s current exhibition Bananarchy!, artist Barry Sykes will present a performance lecture on the ridiculous strategies, absurd games and various experiments in human connection and social taboos that have made up his artist practice in recent years. Taking this opportunity to talk candidly about his motivations and the experiences the work has led to, together with the audience we will use various metrics to evaluate his practice’s potentials, pitfalls and pleasures.His current roster of projects involve life drawing, fancy dress, sauna culture, stroke rehabilitation, bad poetry, quick portraits and rain water. Each of them in their own way exploring how making, play and embracing fallibility could lead to a deeper understanding of the world and each other. He will also discuss how his own Autism diagnosis and his daughter’s Down Syndrome have reframed his practice and priorities.Barry will also be dressed as a make-shift clown for the duration of the evening and it will culminate in him leading a short introductory class in Laughter Yoga. 🙂

Barry Sykes (born Essex 1976, lives and works in London) uses drawing, sculpture and performance to investigate the overlooked details of social interactions. Working at the edges of value, skill and acceptable behaviour, recent activity has looked at how we channel these concerns through our bodies, in experiments with laughter, stillness, exercise and relaxation. Often acting as a host, guide or teacher, recent projects this year have been developed for various organisations including Whipps Cross University Hospital; Focal Point Gallery, Southend; Netley Primary School and Autism Unit; Goldsmith’s College, London and Shoreditch &Soul social wellness space.

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In Conversation: Pippa Hale & Cristina Talens

Thursday 11 September 2025
7-9pm
Humber Street Gallery

Free, booking required

Bananarchy! artist Pippa Hale will be in conversation with Cristina Talens, the University of Hull’s Director of Modern Slavery Risk Assessments and Head of Business Risk Assessment Services, to explore the serious side of the global banana trade. Cristina Talens has more than 20 years’ experience in ethical trading, sustainability and supply chains. She has worked with migrant workers on modern slavery issues in the UK, France and Italy. In 2000, she joined the UN Global Programme Against Trafficking and Smuggling of Human Beings, to develop international programmes tackling organised crime, smuggling and trafficking. Thereafter she joined the private sector to advise businesses on their supply chains. Today she regularly conducts social audit assignments and risk assessments on behalf of major UK supermarkets and supports them on the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act.

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