Robin Hutchinson made Honorary Freeman of Royal Borough of Kingston

Well known throughout the borough for his passion for creativity and focus on empowering people, Robin was recognised for his dedication to the arts and the local community. 

Robin is director of Community Brain which works with communities in Kingston to develop togetherness, using the widest range of the arts, education and local history. As the driving force behind the organisation, Robin has had a huge influence on the cultural life of the borough through projects such as SHEDX, the Museum of Futures, Ziggy Returns and the Surbiton Food Festival. 

He is also chair of Creative Youth which aims to enable young people across the borough to realise their potential through innovative, ambitious and original projects in the Arts. Creative Youth held the first International Youth Arts Festival (now called FUSE) at the Rose Theatre in 2009. The event has grown to become the largest festival of its kind in the UK. 

Alongside this, Robin has recently been instrumental in the opening of Creative Youth’s newest venture, ‘FUSEBOX’. This new home and performance space is located in the basement of the John Lewis building, which was recently regenerated by Kingston Council as part of the town’s heritage-led ‘Transform Kingston’ programme. The space is now open to the public for a pilot season of activities and drop-in tours. 

The status of Honorary Freeman is the highest honour that a local authority can bestow on a citizen, and Kingston Council has only granted seven people with this special status. 

Freeman status can be conferred under the Local Government Act 1972 to any individual who has rendered eminent services to the area concerned.