Community Conversation Toolkit

This is a framework for organisations to run their own workshops with communities to help inform Sheffield’s bid for City of Culture 2029.

Sheffield has been longlisted to become UK City of Culture 2029. The UK City of Culture is a designation awarded every four years by the UK Government to a specific city, town, or region. Winning areas host a year-long program of cultural events and festivities designed to stimulate economic growth, attract tourism, and build local community pride.

As part of the bid process, we're inviting people across the city to share their ideas, experiences, hopes and ambitions for Sheffield's future.

Sheffield already has a shared vision for the future, captured in Sheffield’s Culture Strategy and in Sheffield’s City Goals. Our City of Culture bid will sit within that vision, helping to bring it to life. Together, these imagine a city that is creative, connected, welcoming, sustainable and full of opportunity.

This toolkit enables community groups, schools, youth groups, cultural organisations, neighbourhood networks and other local groups to hold their own conversation and contribute ideas to the bid. There are no right or wrong answers.

We're interested in hearing what matters to people, what makes Sheffield special, and what they would like to see happen in 2029 and beyond.

What do we mean by culture?

Culture means different things to different people.

For some people it might mean music, theatre, festivals, museums, galleries or heritage. For others it might mean sport, food, faith, community celebrations, local traditions, nature, gaming, making things, storytelling, volunteering, neighbourhood activities or spending time with others.

When we talk about culture in this conversation, we mean all the ways people express themselves, connect with others, celebrate what matters to them and shape the places where they live.

We're interested in professional culture and grassroots culture, city-wide events and neighbourhood activities, established organisations and informal community initiatives. If it helps people come together, share experiences, create something, celebrate something, care or imagine a better future, then it is likely relevant to this conversation.

Facilitator Guidance

This conversation can be delivered in as little as 45 minutes or extended to a full two hours, depending on the time available.

Facilitators do not need specialist knowledge of culture or City of Culture although full guidance on the bidding process is here.

The aim is simply to create space for conversation where people feel able to speak honestly, listen to each other, capture what matters and ensure that a wide range of voices are heard and can be included in the bid.

For shorter sessions, choose 3 - 4 activities. For longer sessions, work through all activities and allow more time for discussion and creative exercises.

Participants can contribute through discussion, writing, drawing, mapping, photographs, post-it notes or any other format that works for the group.

Where possible, use people’s own words. Memorable phrases, stories and examples can carry more meaning than a polished summary.

Toolkit and enquiries

Thank you for helping shape Sheffield's City of Culture 2029 bid.

By taking part, you're contributing to a city-wide conversation about Sheffield's future and helping ensure that the ideas, experiences and ambitions of people across our neighbourhoods and communities are reflected in the bid. We can’t promise that your ideas will make it into the final bid, but we can promise it will be read and carefully considered by the bidding team.

Together, we're exploring how culture can help Sheffield become an even more creative, connected, welcoming, sustainable and opportunity-rich city for everyone.

You can download the toolkit here.

Once you have completed the tasks, please fill in this form.

The deadline for completion is 24 July 2026.

For enquiries, please contact culturesheffield@sheffield.gov.uk.