Culture Strategy
Sheffield Culture Audit Report
Sheffield Culture Strategy 2024: a new vision for creativity in the city
Sheffield is a city filled with inspiring artists, makers, and doers. Our artists, musicians, and designers are known around the world, but those who live here understand that thousands of incredible creatives across our communities and neighbourhoods are simply getting on with their work. We recognise that, as a city, there is much more we can do to support these individuals in flourishing.
With this in mind, we have developed a fresh vision for creativity, arts, and culture in Sheffield. We hope this vision will ensure that everyone who lives, works, or visits here has the opportunity to participate, collaborate, and benefit from the many wonderful contributions that arts and culture bring to our city.
As part of this process, we initiated a citywide consultation on culture, engaging with Sheffield’s creative community to shape the new culture strategy. Following our initial "pre-engagement" survey conducted in December 2023, we gathered valuable insights that informed a comprehensive engagement process.
We are pleased to announce that the strategy is now complete and will be published here following discussion in the Economic Development and Skills committee meeting on the 31st October. Further details will be shared alongside this information on the week commencing 4th November.
The Culture Strategy has been commissioned by Sheffield City Council, the University of Sheffield, and Arts Council England, and has been delivered by the creative consultancy Fourth Street, Sheffield-based social enterprise Opus Independents, and a team of cultural freelancers from the city.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the consultation process. Your insights, feedback, and contributions have been invaluable in shaping the Sheffield Culture Strategy. We appreciate the time and effort you dedicated to sharing your perspectives, which will help us create a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape for our city. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey!
What We Hope the Culture Strategy Will Achieve for the City
To create a healthy cultural sector in the future, we believe the new strategy needs to:
- Uncover and celebrate our shared story of Sheffield’s culture and creativity.
- Foster conditions that allow organisations and creatives to thrive, collaborate, and participate, while enhancing the infrastructure and resources available in the city.
- Outline necessary changes so that young people can envision a future in Sheffield’s cultural landscape, with clear pathways to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
- Provide insight into how any organisation, individual, or group can collaborate and participate in a growing and vibrant ecosystem of cultural work that serves communities and neighbourhoods throughout Sheffield.
This page will continue to be regularly updated with new information, questionnaires, and dates for upcoming cultural events in the city—we would love for you to stay engaged with us!
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Introducing the Culture Strategy Action Group
For those who don’t know, what is the CSAG?
At the heart of the Culture Strategy is a commitment to shared leadership and a collaborative, city-wide approach to shaping Sheffield’s cultural future. This will benefit residents, visitors and the local economy.
The convening of the CSAG is a step towards realising this vision. It brings together a cross-section of passionate and motivated cultural workers in an ongoing task group to drive positive change across the sector by connecting people, championing ideas and inspiring collective action. It embodies the collaborative spirit at the core of the strategy, creating a shared leadership.
In its actions, the group will seek to connect, convene, communicate and champion culture within the city to contribute to a networked, supportive, inclusive and growing creative and cultural sector for the benefit of all.
Find out what went down in the first meeting here!
PS. Please note, this information will all be available in detail on our website upon its launch. Bear with us whilst we have to use these plainer means to share this info!
Introducing the group!
Amelia Cavallo – Quiplash, LGBTQ+ Disability Arts
“Sheffield has the potential to be a hub of creativity and innovation in arts, culture and community work. I am excited to support the strategies that will help Sheffield develop into its full potential, and to make sure that accessibility is a priority. I am also excited to connect to like-minded Sheffield arts and community workers to make a strong network and community.”
Amelia Lander-Cavallo is a blind artist, academic, facilitator and theatre practitioner, and is co-director of Quiplash, a queer / disabled led arts, training and consultation not-for-profit organisation. As an artist and theatre practitioner, Amelia has worked for 20 years in the field of audio description (AD), supporting artists and companies to find exciting and creative ways to utilise this access tool.
As an academic, Amelia has written multiple internationally published pieces on AD and access including their recent book, Integrated Access In Live Performance (Routledge, 2022). As a company director and facilitator, they have trained multiple Audio Describers working through Quiplash as well as other AD based organisations such as Vocaleyes (UK), the Audio Description Association (Europe) and Superior Description (Canada).
Amelia has also founded their own methodology of integrating AD into art, media and marketing that encompasses the principles, voice and ethos of a project as well as removing access barriers for blind and visually impaired people.
Linda J Bloomfield – RivelinCo & Community Arts
“I feel delighted and privileged to have been selected for the Culture Strategy Action Group. I feel strongly that artists, freelancers and cultural organisations in Sheffield deserve better recognition, funding, and opportunities, and that the voices of Sheffield’s communities should be at the heart of future plans for culture in the city. I felt energised by the participatory approach to development of the cultural strategy, and am excited to support delivery of it, hold myself and others accountable, and contribute to a more equitable cultural sector in the city.”
Linda is a cultural producer based in Sheffield and the founder and Director at RivelinCo, North Sheffield’s neighbourhood arts centre without walls. She has led arts, culture and community projects for the last 15 years, with artists and organisations including the National Theatre, British Library, Roundhouse, the Albany, The Bare Project, Kit Green and Future Arts Centres, as well as libraries, schools and councils across the UK, Europe and Asia.
In 2024 she joined the Montgomery Theatre as Interim Executive Director to complete a £1.5m capital redevelopment - she is now a Trustee at the Montgomery and a school governor at Marcliffe Primary. Linda has completed Fellowships with Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy (2019) and Footwork (2023) and in 2021 she was granted a Clore Excellerate Fellowship recognising her progression as an ‘exceptional cultural leader’. Linda also hosts Opportunity Tuesday, a popular weekly arts newsletter which reaches 6000 creatives.
Susan Hunter Downer – Playwright & Poet
“Sheffield's Culture Strategy has the potential to redefine the city by listening to more of its stories and supporting the creative talents of all communities. It has the potential to build bridges and champion the shared story about who we are as a city. It's an honour to be part of the group that's helping to bring in the changes over the next three years.”
Susan Hunter Downer is an African heritage scriptwriter, published poet, group facilitator, creative activist, and journalist. She has had two well-reviewed plays that were performed in Sheffield and completed her third in 2025. She loves humans, despite the fact that they are human, and strongly believes in the power of the arts to help change the winner-takes-all narrative that dominates way too much of our world. She is a member of the African Heritage Culture Forum and Sadacca Women's Group.
Born in Birmingham, she studied in Nottingham and London before moving to Sheffield and studying in Leeds. Over the years, she has learned to love things she's not especially good at, such as running, because it's good to get better at something you thought you couldn't do. When she's not writing, she enjoys Olympic texting, staying up late, and eating salty things out of packets with the word 'crisps' written on them. Despite all evidence to the contrary, she persists in thinking she's funny.Faisal Yaqoob Sultani - Sheffield Mela, Festivals
“It is my main aim to bring communities together. Being part of the Culture Strategy Action Group excites me because cultural activities and music can break barriers, build bridges and truly bring people closer. I believe in celebrating diversity and creating shared spaces where everyone feels connected.”
Faisal Yaqoob Sultani is a media professional and company director with a strong passion for community work. Born in Kashmir, he began his media journey at the age of nine, writing for children’s magazines. In 2004 he moved to the UK and, after working with several outlets, in Joined Inspire FM Luton as Programming Manager in 2010, also contributing to different projects that supported community cohesion.
In 2016 Faisal relocated to Sheffield to manage Link FM, where he served as Station Operation Manager until 2019 and again from 2022 until November 2024. During this time, he delivered various community projects and partnered with the Sheffield Star to launch the Know Your Neighbour campaign, encouraging stronger relationships between local communities.
Alongside his media career, Faisal has volunteered with humanitarian organisations since 2009. He now works full time as a media consultant, directs a company providing advertising, marketing and event management, and runs Sheffield Mela the largest South Asian festival in South Yorkshire. In his spare time, he also works as a private hire driver.Livia Barreira – Migration Matters, Living in Sheffield & Community Arts
“I am driven by a passion for our communities in Sheffield and feel professionally motivated by challenge. I would like to support the Culture Strategy by using my communication and connection skills to facilitate the engagement of diverse groups in building Sheffield´s cultural future.”
Livia is a Brazilian-British journalist, writer (book Living in Sheffield: Our Journeys as Migrant Women), community engagement and communications strategist with an MA in Strategy of Communications. Throughout her years in Sheffield, Livia has tirelessly used her skills to promote diverse communities. Her empathetic, non-judgemental approach has allowed the development of strong connections with a wide variety of groups in the city.
Livia wants to see people feeling empowered and proud of their roots and contributions to culture and society. Her work as Migration Matters Festival’s Audience Development Manager has enabled me to build connections with diverse groups. Livia independently created and runs an online platform called Living in Sheffield as well as a community called "International Women of Sheffield". With lived experience as a migrant in the UK, her main goal is to create an inclusive Sheffield where everyone can feel welcome, celebrated and thrive.
Michael Thompson – Ritetrax, Plot 22, Grassroots Venue
“As a passionate musician and social entrepreneur from a working-class background, I'm excited to represent DIY music culture and work towards a more balanced cultural landscape in Sheffield.”
Mike is one of the founding directors of the Sheffield social enterprise RiteTrax, a project centred around supporting young people and vulnerable adults with music provision. He has a passion for supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage with music and creative culture more generally. With years of experience running community music projects, as well as working in the sector as a live musician, DJ, producer, event promoter and venue owner, Mike brings a unique and well-rounded perspective to the group.
Megan Pinder - Pinder Dance & SY Dance Hub
“I'm excited to be part of the Culture Strategy Action Group because of its collaborative approach. I'm looking forward to connecting with passionate, like-minded individuals from across the sector who are also committed to creating meaningful change in a city that I care about so deeply. Being part of a forum that celebrates creativity, joy, and discovery — and that actively contributes to the cultural life of the city — is both a privilege and an exciting step forward for me as a practitioner and community advocate.”
Based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Megan is a freelance dancer, choreographer, performer, and teacher with a First-Class BA (Hons) degree in Dance and Performance. She runs Pinder Dance Productions, an award-winning company recognised in 2023 for excellence in community outreach. Her work focuses on creating accessible, engaging dance experiences for all demogrpahics and abilities.
As the South Yorkshire Dance Hub Co-ordinator, she connects local artists, organisations, and educators to strengthen the region’s dance network. She also works with Links School Sport Partnership as both a Dance Specialist and School Sports Co-ordinator, delivering high-quality, creative dance provision in schools across the region. Passionate about education, inclusion, and the transformative power of the arts, Megan hopes to bring vision, experience, and dedication to the CSAG.
Dr Yet Chor Sunshine Wong – Bloc Projects & Visual Arts
“Deepening inter-organisational relationships; sharing resources; new collaborations.”
Yet Chor Sunshine Wong is an art writer, researcher, and facilitator. Her practice explores the mediation and social production of contemporary art. She completed her CADRE-funded PhD on the relational material of art practices at the University of Wolverhampton. She curates, produces, and writes about art projects that wrestle with their place in public life.
Most recently, she has been focusing on diasporic – particularly E & SE Asian – narratives, artistic co-learning and survivability, and interdependence. Sunshine is currently Director of Bloc Projects in Sheffield.
Delight Mishael Cheelo - Creative Producer
“What excites me about being part of the Culture Strategy Action Group is the ability to help shape the creative landscape of the city of Sheffield, creating a budding ecosystem for practising creatives.”
Cheelo is a multidisciplinary artist, writer and creative producer/director based in Sheffield, with a passion for the arts and a desire to shine light on the creative community within South Yorkshire. Currently, he is managing PYP, a platform for local poets and writers. Cheelo also works with local organisations such as SADACCA and mumsunited, focusing on the development their youth program through creative events and workshops.
Akinṣeye Oke - Sound Café, Music & Events
“I’m excited to join the Culture Strategy Action Group because it’s a chance to help shape a cultural landscape where every community feels seen, valued, and included. I look forward to working with others to build a sector that celebrates Sheffield’s creativity in all its diversity.”
Akinṣeye is a Sheffield-based event curator, creative producer, and community engagement specialist. He is the Founder and Curator of Sound Café UK, a platform for African live music, and has created and collaborated on projects such as the African Roots Carnival with SADACCA, performances for Welcoming Cultures, Culture Sheffield, Sunrit Culture Group, and the Sheffield Chinese New Year Festival. He also collaborated on Sheffield Must Dance, merging African live music with fitness. Through these projects, Akinṣeye continues to bring African music and culture into diverse spaces across Sheffield, creating opportunities for communities to connect and celebrate.
Lucy Revis – TRACKS, Music, Children & Young People
“I cannot wait to bring the voices of those I work with and the experience I hold to the table when working with this incredible group of cultural leaders. From our initial meeting I have already learned so much and know this is just the start of something special.”
Lucy Revis is a cellist, singer, and project leader with over twenty years of freelance experience, performing on stages and leading workshops across the UK. Alongside her musical career, she is a passionate advocate for children in care. As both a foster carer and co-founder of TRACKS, Lucy has developed and delivered bespoke educational packages for young people, designed to build confidence, creativity, and opportunities for young people.
Based in Sheffield, Lucy manages an alternative provision alongside a network of musical youth clubs, live events, and community projects, working daily to connect young people with music and self-expression. Her work spans performance, teaching, and event management, and she has collaborated with a range of organisations on youth, arts, and education initiatives. Through TRACKS and the Sheffield Music School, she continues to direct and shape projects that champion inclusion, creativity, and learning through music.
Reuben Griffiths – SpringTank Studios, Waterbear & Music/Education
“I’m excited for the CSAG to bring together different forms of creative expression to build a collective voice for social change through the arts."
Reuben is a Music Producer, Tutor at Waterbear College of Music, and Director of Spring Tank Studios — a community-focused music studio space. Across these different roles within the music industry, his aim is to champion and support those who are often underrepresented. Amplifying youth voices and empowering underrepresented social groups is essential to building a thriving, inclusive, and forward-looking creative industry here in Sheffield.
Terezia Rostas – Welcoming Cultures & Community Arts
“I am excited to be part of the Culture Strategy Action Group because it gives me the opportunity and the chance to shape a more inclusive, creative future where every community's heritage, culture and voice can shine.”
Terezia Rostas is a Hungarian Roma from the Gabor community, a passionate advocate for gender equality, race equality, and Roma rights. She holds an Honours Degree in Law and a PGCE in Education from Sheffield Hallam University, bringing both legal expertise and educational insight to her work. She is currently studying for an LLM in Global Human Rights and Social Justice.
Terezia is a consultant/advocate and plays a key role in shaping cultural and social policies through her involvement in the Cultural Strategy Task and Finish Group, City GOALS, Growth, and the DfE Roma Stakeholder Group.
Committed to supporting communities facing inequalities in race, gender, and access to rights, Terezia is deeply passionate about heritage, culture, and reconnecting communities with institutions. She is also a peace activist, working towards building inclusive, equitable and culturally rich societies.
Kirstie Hamilton - Sheffield Museums & Heritage
"Sheffield has so much art and culture to celebrate and share. I'm excited to support Sheffield to be ambitious and build a stronger, more connected and more ambitious cultural sector."
Kirstie Hamilton has over 25 years of experience in the museum and gallery sector. Specialising in visual art and exhibitions, she has extensive experience of museum collections, contemporary commissioning, fundraising, engagement, collaborative working, project management, and strategic leadership . Kirstie is Director of Programmes at Sheffield Museums and leads the Collections, Exhibitions, Historic Engineering and Learning and Participation teams. She is responsible for Sheffield Museums creative programme and the care, development and presentation of the city’s museum collections.
Sara Unwin - University of Sheffield & Off the Shelf Festival
BIO TBC!
Sophie Hunter – CSAG Facilitator
“I’m delighted to be facilitating the Culture Strategy Action Group; they are a group of people with ambition and purpose, and the way ahead feels full of potential!”
Sophie grows people, projects and places. She is a freelance creative producer, facilitator, evaluator and creative education consultant, working to encourage change through reflective practice and the development of learning communities. Much of the work Sophie loves involves holding space for others to create, pause, review and reflect – whether in an evaluation, facilitation, action research or training and coaching context. She brings together experience in holding space for people's learning with an ability to co-create large-scale strategic projects. Sophie is passionate about equal access to arts and culture and supporting a healthy connection to our planet.
Sophie arrived in Sheffield in 1997 for a job in the Education Department at the Crucible, working with the Crucible Youth Theatre, Sheffield schools and community groups. Since then, she has started Growtheatre with Rachel Newman and kick-started the Cultural Education Partnership, now called Create Sheffield.
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Culture Club 1: Call-Outs and Shout Outs
Before we get into it, did you miss the roundup and image selection?
Requests/Collaboration:
- The Sheffield Bard is looking for open mics, other poets, writers, and people interested in collaborating. Contact via The Sheffield Bard on Insta.
- Katie Fisher is a freelance editor & writer based in Sheffield who would love to work with people on whatever editorial help your project might need. Contact via katiefisheredits@gmail.com
- The Sheffield Caribbean Sports Club is looking for stalls & a slush machine. Contact via janet1976.angel@gmail.com
- Quiplash is looking for pictures of your pets, gardens and clients who need access & LGBTQ+ training and consulting, as well as queer disabled performance opportunities. Contact via @quiplasharts, hello@quiplash.co.uk or www.quiplash.co.uk
- UMMAYA Foundation is looking for help learning about funding and collaboration. Contact via contact@ainarapol.co.uk
- University of Sheffield Knowledge Exchange is looking for how we can help with research & innovation ideas, collaborations and projects. Contact via j.e.bradley@sheffield.ac.uk
- Gut Level is looking to establish a network to share skills, knowledge and practices to embed care, safer space and antiracism into nightlife culture – connections, funding opportunities and support. Contact via saferspace@gutlevel.co.uk
- Cheelo is looking for help with connecting to funders. Contact via @dmcheelo
- Sheffield City Breakers (SCO – CIC) is looking for funding to support our breakdance sessions which we run in Sheffield twice a week (all are welcome to give it a go). Contact via hello@akashicconsultancy.com
- Ai Narapol is a freelance photographer and filmmaker looking for opportunities. Contact via @ainarapol or contact@ainarapol.co.uk
- Lorna at the Writers Workshop is looking for any kind of wordsmith who wants to share the joy and power of creative writing with Sheffielders. Contact via lorna@thewritersworkshop.co.uk
- The Choir with no Name is looking for collaboration - they’re a national org running choirs involving people with experience of homelessness in 7 cities including Sheffield. Contact via kate@choirwithnoname.org
- Lick of Paint Fest are looking for wall space, time (however you can give it), and funds (however small) - are you doing anything in September? If so, let’s collab. Contact via hello@lickofpaintfest.com or @lickofpaintfest
Culture Sheffield is looking for submissions for our Culture Bulletin. Contact via Murray.wood@sheffield.gov.uk
Celebration/Promotion:
- Madame Zucchini would like to shout out her availability for your vegetable entertainment needs. Contact via www.madamezucchini.co.uk
- Sam Groom (Artist & Printmaker) would like to shout out his availability as a printmaker who can run art and printmaking events for adults with a variety of needs, run workshops for schools, paint murals and create collages as well as original prints.
- Grace (@nmlss.crtvs) would like to shout out her availability as a freelance multidisciplinary artist that does all things event management, photography (editorial & commercial), creative directing in music and fashion, marketing plans for content, and hosting to keep up the vibes.
- Akashic Consultancy would like to shout out an offer of free SEO/Digital Marketing consultations for anyone in Sheffield’s culture sector (1 hour call). This is a way of giving back, with no pressure to use their services. Contact via hello@akashicconsultancy.com and mention Sheffield Culture to set up a call.
- Livia (Audience Development Manager) would like to shout out Migration Matters Festival, starting next week with 50+ events. The opening party on the 20th June at SADACCA. The festival happens until the 28th and everyone is welcome!
- Cabaret Boom Boom would like to shout out their wonderful shows. The next season starts 20th September. www.cabaretboomboom.co.uk
- Sheffield Theatres would like to shout out two job opportunities. They’re recruiting for a Producing & Programming Assistant and a Technical Theatre Apprentice. Join them for Together Festival this summer!
- UMMAYA Foundation would like to shout out their arts based therapy for Asylum Seekers & Refugees. They would love to collaborate or chat, contact via contact@ainarapol.co.uk
- Brian (Percy Street Collective) would like to shout out community arts events at our Roundhouse, Zest Centre. www.percystreetcic.com
- Jo Veal would like to shout out her availability as a community artist – giant lanterns, organic nature art, willow domes, shadow puppetry & foraged art. They’re also a community musician, having created a “dancing under the light of the silvery moon” outdoor folk music/dance event. @joveal_art
- DJ Jonaxthan would like to shout out his DJ Alias @djjonaxthan for life-affirming and joyful (vinyl only) music.
- The Sheffield Bard would like to shout out himself because he’s a really good poet and is creating a literary network.
- Angelina (Mulembas d’Africa) would like to shout out Mamawe Afro Pean Fest with West African Dance, Guinean Drum Workshop, free panel discussion, Ancestral Guidance at Croft House 21st June – 1pm to 6pm. www.mulembasdafrica.com or contact via mulembasdafrica@gmail.com
- Monique would like to shout out Hybrid 3 Studios for rehearsal & recording studios, providing an accessible space for artists and young people in Sheffield.
- Kent Roach would like to shout out Midsummer Latin Jazz, Funk & Soul at Cubana, Friday 20th June. As well as Montuno, a collective celebrating Latin Funk & Nuyorcian Soul.
- Archipelago Arts Collective would like to shout out themselves as a new company making socially engaged, sometimes site specific work. They’re running some workshops for artists in collab with Sheffield Theatres.
- Tito Bone would like to shout out themselves – your average blind, non-binary, bisexual drag king. Singing, dancing, audio describing and dad dancing for you. They’re playing at Together Fest (Aug 2nd), Pangolin (Sept 5th) & Effable (Sept 11th) at Sydney and Matilda. You can hire them too!
- Quiplash would like to shout out themselves, they do access, audio description & LGBTQ+ training and consulting. Email them for a chat remote or in person – hello@quiplash.co.uk
- Alastair (Lick of Pint Fest) would like to shout out his festival, due to take place on the 6th & 7th Sept. It’s a Street Art Festival, and their first time running a festival, so all help and support is appreciated.
Who's Listening
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Email tagar@fourth-street.com
