Culture Strategy

Sheffield Culture Strategy now available for download!


We’re delighted to announce that the Sheffield Culture Strategy is now complete and available for download. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, insights, and ideas throughout the consultation process—your input has been invaluable in shaping this vision for our city’s cultural future. Please stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing the next steps and upcoming opportunities to get involved next week.

Sheffield Culture Strategy

Sheffield Culture Audit Report

Sheffield Engagement 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.

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!

Sheffield Culture Strategy now available for download!


We’re delighted to announce that the Sheffield Culture Strategy is now complete and available for download. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, insights, and ideas throughout the consultation process—your input has been invaluable in shaping this vision for our city’s cultural future. Please stay tuned, as we’ll be sharing the next steps and upcoming opportunities to get involved next week.

Sheffield Culture Strategy

Sheffield Culture Audit Report

Sheffield Engagement 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.

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!

  • The Culture Strategy - A Year On

    Introduction

    Following a citywide consultation with Sheffield’s creative community, the city launched its Culture Strategy at an event on 11th December 2024. We are now one year into this decade-long plan to support arts and culture in Sheffield, and so much has been achieved already.

    We established ‘Culture Sheffield’ at the City Council to help deliver the Strategy alongside the people of this city. Our first year has been about tackling Ignite, the Strategy’s first creative mission which lays the foundations for the next 10 years of development.

    We are pleased to say that almost all the actions in Ignite have already been achieved, and we’ll break them down in this article.

    Communications

    The Strategy called for better communication in the sector and more knowledge sharing, so we set up new channels to signpost creatives to the tools and resources they need to thrive:

    • The Sheffield Culture Bulletin is now an essential component of culture sector comms, with 1,300 sign-ups from Sheffield’s creative community. It goes out twice a month and includes cultural event submissions, as well as a comprehensive breakdown of artist opportunities, open grants and training workshops. We had a 90% engagement rate over summer, showing how well-utilised this resource is.

    • Our LinkedIn now has over 1,600 followers, and we use it to platform job vacancies, commissions and opportunities for professional development on a weekly basis. Its reach is growing, with our posts making 15,000-20,000 impressions per month.

    • We now have a website for arts and culture the city! Its purpose is to signpost creative freelancers and cultural organisations to resources whilst platforming essential information about key themes in the Strategy, such as environmental sustainability and young people. This will be a work in progress, and we’re open to ongoing suggestions on how to improve and add to it – please contact murray.wood@sheffield.gov.uk. It is available to view, utilise and feedback on right now, but we’ll be doing a hard launch in the new year once final tweaks have been made. Visit the Sheffield Culture Hub.

    • We commissioned a showreel video for culture, and those who came to Culture Club were lucky enough to get a sneak preview! The video platforms the work of 50 amazing creatives and organisations in the city, linking into Sheffield Inspires, the world’s official no.1 place-brand. It's a great showcase of what Sheffield has to offer and will generate a buzz for viewers inside and outside of the region.

    Our comms are about championing creativity, upskilling the sector, keeping people in the loop about Strategy delivery, and bringing culture more readily into the city brand. They are also about creating greater platforming, support and celebration of diverse cultural events across communities. This will impact the people of Sheffield and the visitor economy, placing the Sheffield culture scene on the national stage.

    Strategy activation series

    The Strategy activation series was a great success last spring. The series was put together to ‘activate’ key conversations about different areas of the Strategy, and it was fantastic to see so many people contributing their ideas.

    Culture Sheffield collaborated with numerous organisations and freelancers to put on the series, and it revolved round themes such as grassroots music, sustainability and sector leadership. The events engaged over 750 attendees!

    Selected achievements and positive outcomes:

    • We began consultations and the process of forming a new sector leadership initiative, now called the Culture Strategy Action Group (more information below).

    • Over 100 people came together to explore Sheffield’s Creative Health landscape at an event at SADACCA’s G-Mill. We've since collaborated with Creative Health Sheffield to build a page for our website around this theme. Visit the Sheffield Culture Hub to see more.

    Feedback:

    • 67% of respondents said they had made a new contact.

    • 66% of respondents said they had heard about work that they are interested in.

    • 63% of respondents said they had learnt something useful.

    Support for freelancers

    Alongside our activation series in spring, we commissioned RivelinCo to run a 9-part Freelancer Skills Series which reached 190 people. They covered topics such as event production, fundraising and creative facilitation whilst also offering freelancers and small organisations a great opportunity to network and share ideas.

    From the feedback, we can see that people really valued the chance to connect and share information with each other:

    • 95% of respondents felt they learned something new.

    • 90% of respondents felt they developed their skills.

    • 95% of respondents now feel more confident in each respective event’s areas of work.

    • 74% felt the session helped them connect with other creatives.

    To build on this, we tendered again for another Freelancer Skills Series, and it was awarded to Fair Collective who have been delivering workshops in the second half of 2025 and will be doing so until early 2026.

    This is a programme for creative freelancers and small creative organisations in Sheffield, designed to help them build practical skills, grow their network and explore new opportunities across the city’s cultural and visitor economy. Themes have included how to decolonise your practice and future-proof your creative career.

    Looking ahead to 2026, sign up to learn how to turn your idea into an event and get training on how to improve your creative facilitation skills. Find out more and sign up to the events here.

    We continue to support freelancers in our everyday work through our communications channels and are committed to having conversations with creatives who reach out for support. We have also included attendance payments for some of our events to encourage freelancer participation, and there is a high proportion of freelancers in the Culture Strategy Action Group.

    The Culture Strategy Action Group

    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. With this in mind, we co-created a collaborative leadership model called the Culture Strategy Action Group (CSAG) alongside the sector.

    We had an astonishing 75 applicants to this group, which was whittled down to 17 members with difficulty! Membership will rotate to keep ideas fresh and ensure broad representation.

    The CSAG brings together a cross-section of passionate cultural workers in an ongoing task group to drive positive change across the sector by connecting people, championing ideas, and inspiring collective action.

    The CSAG is in its early stages, and so far it has had two meetings with a full day planned for January. We’ll be adding details about these meeting to our website.

    Sector networking

    As promised in the Strategy, we began our quarterly sector meetups with Culture Club. Each event has sold over 100 tickets and takes place in one of the city’s valued cultural spaces, with the Alder Bar, Persistence Works and CADS all playing host so far.

    We’ve had electric performances from Sound Café, Danaé Wellington, Resonant Bodies and several other great local acts. Culture Club is essential networking and collaboration time for the sector, and our call-out/shout-out walls are a great way for people to platform their work and share knowledge.

    Other events

    Our events support the development of training and toolkits at different levels, from early career professionals to established practitioners:

    • Sheffield as a Music City: Inspired by the MOBOs in 2024, the exciting plans for Harmony Works, and Sheffield’s music heritage; we brought the city together to explore how Sheffield's musical fabric could be celebrated and supported. The event was followed by a celebration of the MOBO’s one year on in the Winter Gardens with speakers, music performances, choir, food and drinks.

    • Creative Futures Workshop Series: A multi-part workshop for aspiring and developing Culture Leaders in Sheffield. These events helped people sharpen their leadership skills, expand their network and establish some next steps, supporting the future of participants’ business practice. We offered our attendance payments to facilitate freelancer and small-org participation.

    • Fundraising Toolkit Day: A one-day professional development event designed to support arts and culture organisations to explore strategies to strengthening business models, expand fundraising strategies, and building long-term sustainability. We had excellent guest speakers, roundtable discussions and bookable 1:1 slots with experienced arts fundraisers.

    • Create Sheffield Pathways: We supported Create with this programme as part of Discover! Creative Careers Month. They brought teachers, creative professionals, employers and young people alike together for activities, presentations and conversations.

    Funds

    Bridging the Gap

    This is a targeted support programme designed to strengthen events-based cultural organisations that have the potential to become sustainable but are currently operating without stable core income.

    The fund was open to Sheffield-based cultural organisations that need development to become more financially secure. Its main objectives are:

    • To increase the amount of regularly funded arts organisations in Sheffield

    • To increase the income of these organisations, decreasing the risk of losing them and their events

    The fund has now closed and been awarded to 5 Sheffield orgs, who will receive a tailored business support package that includes ongoing mentoring, structured workshops that are bespoke to individual training needs, and grant funding of £10,000.

    The funded organisations are:

    Watch this space to see how the fund develops and how these organisations are supported!

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    Cultural Networks Fund

    We’re also delighted to announce the launch of the a £20,000 grant programme designed to strengthen Sheffield’s cultural networks.

    Cultural networks bring together artists, organisations, and communities around shared aims. When supported, they can become powerful “engine rooms” for collaboration, a reflection of Sheffield’s cooperative spirit and a key driver of the city’s Culture Strategy.

    This fund recognises that many networks are already achieving great things but often face challenges in time, resources, and coordination. This fund will help existing cultural networks strengthen their structure, plan sustainably and deliver public-facing cultural activity.

    Networks can be awarded:

    • Up to £1,500 for coordination, admin and network development

    • Up to £2,500 for a public cultural event or as match funding

    Applications are now live, so please share!

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    Cultural Pipeline Fund and Creative Communities Fund Evaluation

    We finished evaluating and reporting on pre-Strategy funding schemes including the Creative Communities Fund and Cultural Pipeline Fund (CPF). These show what great impact funding can have in the city:

    • The Creative Communities Fund (£180,000) supported 12 organisations to deliver a total of 452 workshops, engage 5,136 participants, and commission/pay 206 artists and 87 organisations.

    • CPF (£250,000) supported 25 organisations and saw grantees raise £583,217 in fundraising work supported by the fund, more than doubling the original grant pot.

    Other successes

    • Provided 6 organisations with key match funding totalling £87,000, which generated £327,546 from bid income.

    • Delivered an Assets Pipeline and report to map out creative and heritage spaces in the city, assessing the scale of development needed. You can view the report here.

    Amidst bigger projects and achievements, we are committed to supporting the cultural and creative industries in our day-to-day work. This includes advocating for cultural organisations who are submitting bids, meeting with creatives to hear about their work and offer support, and platforming other teams at the council. This enables organisations and creatives to access support in the local authority that they otherwise wouldn’t have heard about.

    What's on the horizon?

    Here's a glimpse of our 2026 events schedule:

    • Freelancer Skills Series January – March

    • Disability Awareness Session with Quiplash – 20th February

    • Creative Futures Leadership Development Day – 26th February

    • Culture Club 4 – early March, details TBC

    • Music Venue Trust Event on planning and the NTE – mid to late March, details TBC

    • Arts Marketing Toolkit Day – April/May, details TBC

    We will also be hiring a Development Manager in our team to deliver on the city’s ambitious plans for Heritage – if you think this could be you, check out the spec and apply here!

    We are beginning to move into the next creative mission of the Strategy, Accelerate. This involves improving young people’s access to the arts, championing the social benefits of culture and working towards an environmentally sustainable sector. These are more challenging thematic issues for the Sheffield sector to tackle together. Keep an eye on our comms to follow progress and get involved.

    Closing thoughts

    Hopefully these projects from our first year have gone some way towards challenging the problems that artists and organisations face. However, ultimately, the city is in the early days of the delivering of the Culture Strategy, and there is a lot more to be achieved. It is still a challenging climate for cultural organisations and creative freelancers, and the above successes don’t negate the struggle the arts sector is still going through.

    Thank you to all the organisations and creatives who have been involved in the delivery of the Culture Strategy this past year, whether it was to deliver an event, develop your cultural network or something as simple as submitting an opportunity to our channels. You’ve all been part of the journey, and more exciting things are coming – watch this space!

  • Shout outs from Culture Club 3!

    Thanks for everyone who shared what they’re up to! In no particular order...

    • Five Dollar Shakes are looking for bookings. They're an instrumental surf rock band from Sheffield and you can contact Steve Kay for more details: Valoukh@gmail.com

    • Racoon Studios – Performance spaces, makers shops and studios ran by Arts in the Right Place. They host events and more! Contact arts.in.the.right.place@gmail.com.

    • Check our Robin Todd’s ‘Trans Aware’ personalised inclusion training service. Reach out to robintodd.transaware@gmail.com to book onto training.

    • ArtWorks Together International Festival, January - May 2026 - ArtWorks Together offers adult artists who have a learning disability or are autistic the opportunity to showcase their talents to the entire world.

    • Calling Sheffield-based theatre directors - Ray Castleton is an actor/playwright/producer looking for connections! Contact: Raycastleton@hotmail.com

  • Culture Networks Fund – Funding Call

    A fund to support Sheffield’s Cultural Collaboration

    Context

    November 2024 saw the release of Sheffield’s first ever Culture Strategy, a bold and forward-thinking vision that reflects the rich, dynamic and ever-evolving cultural life of our city. This strategy marked a significant moment of opportunity, with consensus across the sector on the need to work differently. At its heart is a commitment to shared leadership and a collaborative, city-wide approach to shaping Sheffield’s cultural future for the benefit of residents, visitors, and the local economy. 

    In the 12 months since the strategy launch, Culture Sheffield has been working to enable this approach by building communication channels, hosting events and launching projects that connect the sector. In this time, we have:

    • Launched and grown the Culture Bulletin, delivering news and opportunities to 1,200 sector workers twice a month

    • Engaged more than 1,000 participants through events spanning networking, leadership, strategy and information sharing

    • Partnered with Arts Council England and Voluntary Action Sheffield to recruit and launch the “Culture Strategy Action Group”, a project team of 15 arts professionals gathering regularly to work together around culture.

    Alongside this work, we have connected with Sheffield’s existing cultural networks, many of which pre-date the strategy. Built on energy, goodwill and collaboration, these networks were rightly identified in the Culture Strategy as spaces of opportunity: connecting people and organisations around the places, themes and projects where culture can make a difference.

    Many networks are already making strong contributions to the ambitions of the Culture Strategy but lack the time, resources, or structure needed to grow their impact. The Culture Networks Fund has been created to help address that gap, supporting a small cohort of networks to organise more effectively, refine their aims, increase their visibility and deliver impactful work for their members and Sheffield’s communities.


    Fund overview

    The Culture Networks Fund is a targeted grant programme designed to strengthen and support the development of Sheffield’s existing cultural networks.

    Cultural networks bring together artists, organisations, and communities around shared aims. When supported, they can become powerful “engine rooms” for collaboration, a reflection of Sheffield’s cooperative spirit and a key driver of the city’s Culture Strategy.

    This fund recognises that many networks are already achieving great things but often face challenges in time, resources, and coordination. The Culture Networks Fund aims to help these groups move from discussion to action, supporting them to organise more effectively, plan sustainably, and share their work with a wider audience.


    Objectives

    The Culture Networks Fund aims to:

    • Support the development of clear aims, actions, and objectives for Sheffield’s cultural networks.

    • Bring stability and consistency to network administration, allowing members to focus on delivery rather than admin.

    • Enable networks to deliver a public cultural event that elevates their work and strengthens their connection with audiences and communities.


    Who Can Apply

    The fund is open to:

    • Existing cultural networks that are active in Sheffield and contribute to the aims of the Sheffield Culture Strategy.

    • Networks that bring together individuals, organisations, or communities working within or alongside the cultural and creative sector.

    • Networks at any stage of development, provided they have a shared purpose, a commitment to collective working, and clear aims and objectives.

    Applicants must be able to:

    • Nominate a lead organisation or accountable body to manage the grant.

    • Demonstrate that they have an active membership of at least 10 individuals/organisations.

    • Have open and transparent criteria for membership.

    • Demonstrate a clear mission and aims, grounded in improving culture in Sheffield.


    What You Can Apply For

    Total grant pot: £20,000

    Networks can apply for up to £4,000 in total funding, split between two areas:

    • Up to £1,500 for organisational development. To support coordination, facilitation, administration, and communication, helping networks to plan and operate effectively.

    • Up to £2,500 to be used for a public event, or as match funding for a larger events programme or funding bid. To support the delivery of a cultural event(s) that reflects the network’s mission, such as venue hire, artist or speaker fees, and marketing.

    Projects should be achievable within a grant period of 12-months and demonstrate clear benefit to the network and Sheffield’s cultural community.

    In the scenario that we must balance more applications than we can fully fund, we may choose to award a reduced budget.


    What We’re Looking For

    We’re looking for proposals that:

    • Strengthen collaboration and shared purpose within Sheffield’s cultural sector.

    • Build sustainable structures or practices that will last beyond the funding period.

    • Demonstrate inclusivity, accessibility, and awareness of Sheffield’s diverse cultural communities.

    • Deliver a meaningful public outcome: an event, presentation, or other form of engagement that celebrates and shares the network’s work.


    Impact and Expected Outcomes

    Funded networks are expected to demonstrate impact in the following areas:

    • Improved coordination: More effective meeting structures, communication channels, and administrative systems.

    • Increased visibility: Public engagement through events or activity that raises awareness of the network’s role and impact.

    • Collaboration and confidence: Stronger relationships and shared momentum among members.

    • Sustainability planning: Clear plans for maintaining activity and collaboration beyond the life of the fund.

    Networks will be asked to provide a short summary report at the end of the funding period outlining achievements, learning, and next steps.


    Funding Context

    This is a single-round stimulus fund designed to give Sheffield’s cultural networks the capacity and resources to take practical steps forward.

    The fund is intended to catalyse activity and planning for future sustainability, not to provide ongoing support. Networks are encouraged to use part of the funded resource to explore how meetings, communication, and collaboration can continue after the funding period ends.

    If you are a new network and are unable to apply for this fund, please email culturesheffield@sheffield.gov.uk and we can support with advice.


    How to Apply

    Before you start your application, please refer to this simple budget template.

    Once you have done that, please fill in this application form.

    Applicants will need to provide:

    • Information on who will manage the grant and oversee delivery.

    • A short overview of their network, membership, and aims.

    • A clear plan for how funding will be used.


    Timeline

    • Applications open: 1st December 2025

    • Deadline for applications: 12pm on 12th January 2026

    • Decisions sent: 19th January 2026

    • Grants awarded: February 2026

    • Activity to be delivered by and reported on: March 2027


    Funding Amount

    • Maximum award: £4,000 per network

    • Total fund available: £20,000


    Contact

    For questions, guidance, or support with your application, please contact: Frazer.scott@sheffield.gov.uk or culturesheffield@sheffield.gov.uk

  • Culture Strategy Action Group - Meeting 1

    The Culture Strategy Action Group is a direct response to the first outcome of the Culture Strategy Activation plan, which is: “A more equitable, collective leadership model is established leading to a better connected and coordinated culture sector”. As a group of people experienced in making culture happen every day, the CSAG will focus on what it can achieve collectively to strengthen and connect Sheffield’s cultural sector, whilst also helping to deliver the aims of the Culture Strategy.

    On Thursday 18th September a group of Sheffield creatives gathered at Utopia Theatre to help deliver the city’s new cultural vision. This is a new formation of people, brought together to create a new type of collaborative leadership to support the delivery of the Sheffield Culture Strategy. The Culture Strategy Action Group comprises 17 individuals from across the city, selected for their skills, knowledge of different artforms, and commitment to collaborative leadership.

    Some have deep community knowledge or lived experience of barriers to participation, others have pioneered city-wide initiatives, and a few have experience of working in Sheffield's formal cultural institutions. The skills and the connections each person brings will be valuable over the next three years as we work together to deliver a thriving, inclusive and diverse cultural sector with opportunities for creative expression and collaboration at all levels.

    In this first session, we started to get to know each other, expressed our hopes and fears for the group, and asked questions. For this session we mainly shared our perspectives about how we think we should work as a group, how we can best represent our colleagues and communities, and how we will be accountable. We learned what we each did and how we were connected to culture in Sheffield, and what we hope to achieve as a collective. We don't have all the answers yet, but we're looking forward to meeting again in November to get into the detail.

    We left feeling ‘the right amount of hopeful’. We have fears: about how we'll take action, how we'll communicate what we're doing, how we'll share wider perspectives, and that we don't want to be gatekeepers. But we also have hopes: we're optimistic, we feel more connected to each other, we're grateful for the opportunity, and we're excited by the potential and richness of what we’ve heard. We are leaving full of questions, but also hope for the future.

    You can meet the group here!

  • Introducing the Culture Strategy Action Group

    supporting image

    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.

  • Culture Club 2 - Feedback!

    General

    "The bingo was a great icebreaker, the speeches were great and the acts were really beautiful. Facilitated chats between orgs were also really helpful!"

    "A friendly venue, great welcome, nice drinks, great performances, enough pace to not make the networking painful for the shy."

    "An enjoyable event with lots of interesting and like-minded people."


    What are you main take aways / learnings / points of inspiration from the event?

    "Danaé Wellington is an absolute star! And how great and varied is our festival offer."

    "It's great to feel part of a scene."

    "How much work SCC's Culture Team are doing, the drive and energy behind making culture a priority, how many festivals are happening!"

  • Culture Club 2 - Shout Outs!

    Events!

    Consumed | Sheffield Theatres Playhouse | Sheffield Theatres, Now until 11th October

    A 90th birthday party that no-one seems to want. Four generations of Northern Irish women, reunited under one roof. A house full of hungry ghosts, with more than one skeleton in the closet. Turn off your phones at dinner.

    Wordlife Presents: Radical Abundance at The Workstation, 2nd October

    Capitalism has created a world of b******* abundance, where we have too much of what we don’t need and too little of what we do. Through this system’s relentless pursuit of profits, we have been put on a collision course with social and ecological limits that can no longer be ignored.

    Utopia Theatre Open Mic Night, 5th October

    This FREE monthly event is a golden opportunity for both upcoming and established creatives to share their art with a supportive and enthusiastic audience.

    Utopia Theatre: Here's What She Said To Me, 17th October

    Meet Agbeke, Omotola and Aramide, the three generations of proud African women connecting with each other across two continents, across time and space. Together they share their struggles, their joys, tragedies and broken dreams in order to find healing in the present.

    Writers Workshop's Weird Weekend Halloween Party, 31st October

    Featuring a weird 'n wonderful spoken-word performance, quiz, and dancing. Costumes encouraged!

    Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus: Pipes and Voices, 1st November

    A choral organ celebration at St. Marie's Cathedral.

    Other call-outs and opportunities!

    Sheffield Theatres Educators Party

    Sheffield Theatres Educators Party (STEP) is our teachers' network for educators to come for a night at the theatre with food and drink, to meet other teachers and combat teacher burnout.

    Achates Community – Achates

    A new platform for cultural sector charity employees offering support and learning, a leadership programme and community spaces.

    Brown Street Social

    A social space for dancers, singers, street artists, actors, designers, community groups and more – join the community!

    Dance classes, meditation courses and more

    Poh-Eng is looking for the numbers to start regular dance classes, and they are looking for affordable spaces in the evenings with wooden floors. Poh-Eng will also be running a Qi Gong course this autumn with meditative practices. Reach out at pohengtao@gmail.com for more info.

    quiplash

    2026 events for LGBTQ+ disabled creatives - get in touch with hello@quiplash.co.uk to partner up!

    @sheffcitybreakers

    Friendly breakdance sessions in Sheffield. Welcome to all ages and abilities with professional coaches at Hype Dance. First session is free!

    @intersectionaliTEA

    For women and non-binary folk – black feminist politics, rest and play.

    @jade808ayino

    I am a photographer and artist who has just moved to Sheffield. If I don’t make things I basically just end up feeling sad and confused! Looking to connect, giggle and share knowledge. Also open to photography work.

    @trik09

    Murals and illustrations from a local Sheffield graffiti artist and all-round soul brother.

    @hybridstudiosuk

    A podcast studio in the heart of Sheffield open to all creatives who would love a platform to showcase their talent.

    @thisiscalabash_

    A black led collective focused on platforming black artistry! Next appearing at Gut Level for an anti-raids fundraiser.

  • Bridging the Gap Fund

    Bridging the Gap

    UKSPF Showcasing Sheffield: Culture, Events and Visitor Economy Project

    Bridging the Gap is a targeted support programme designed to strengthen and sustain events-based cultural organisations that have the potential to become resilient but are currently operating without stable core income streams. It recognises that many of Sheffield’s arts and creative organisations are approaching sustainability but need some further development to improve their core income.


    Its objectives are:

    • To increase the amount of regularly funded arts organisations in Sheffield (e.g. securing 3-year funding bids or membership scheme)

    • to increase the number of diverse organisations supported/funded in Sheffield - board, staff and/or participants

    • to increase financial resilience by increasing the income of these organisations and decrease the risk of losing these organisations and/or their events


    Alongside this Bridging the Gap is looking to increase representation in leadership roles across the sector, particularly for individuals from protected characteristic groups defined in the Equality Act 2010.

    The Showcasing Sheffield project is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - GOV.UK


    The scheme will be delivered in 3 phases:

    Phase 1 - Mentoring

    Selected organisations will receive up to 6 sessions of mentoring from a leading industry mentor on an event they have delivered or will deliver between April 25 and March 2026, with the aim of identifying key challenges and opportunities that could improve resilience and sustainability.

    Phase 2 – Action Plan

    The mentor will work closely with participants to perform a SWOT analysis, monitor and measure the event delivery and ultimately generate a bespoke Action Plan with recommendations for further specialist training or development. This could include for example, business planning, website development, membership structures etc. Participants will benefit from access to a grant pot as a financial contribution towards progressing those recommendations.

    Phase 3 – Grant

    Participants will benefit from access to a grant pot as a financial contribution towards progressing those recommendations outlined in the action plan


    Alongside this the mentors will collaborate to identify common challenges experienced by selected organisation and scope out a series of free workshops on topics such as financial sustainability and strategic planning, inclusive and responsive leadership or audience development, where participants could also benefit from some peer-to-peer learning and networking to encourage knowledge-sharing and collective growth.


    Applicants must be able to commit the appropriate level of interaction with the scheme:

    • A minimum half a day per month on mentoring – mentoring sessions, preparation, reflection and further connections (up to 3 days over 7 months)

    • Half a day per workshop – to attend the workshop and take part in follow up evaluation (up to 1.5 days over 7 months)

    • Relevant time required to undertake the further training/development as identified in the Action Plan.


    Grant Scheme

    Each participant will benefit from a grant of up to £10,000 towards the costs of progressing the recommendations identified in the Action Plan.


    Who can apply?

    There are spaces for 5 participants on the programme.


    Organisations must meet the following criteria:

    • Sheffield-based arts or cultural organisation (e.g. performing arts, visual arts, literature, combined arts), delivering events in Sheffield, with an annual turnover of less than £500,000.

    • Must be formally constituted (e.g. registered charity, Community Interest Company (CIC), not-for-profit company).

    • Must meet the definition of a Diverse organisation: more than 51% of the board and senior management team are from protected characteristic backgrounds (as defined by the Equality Act 2010), or the organisation primarily serves, engages, or programmes work that is representative of diverse communities.

    • Must have a clear artistic mission, and a track record in delivering public-facing cultural or creative work with clear outcomes or impact for at least 3 years.

    • Must have received at least two large-scale project grants from recognised public funders (e.g. Arts Council England, local authorities, trusts or foundations).

    • Must be established (e.g. operating for a minimum of 3 years), not currently be part of a National Portfolio (NPO) or in receipt of multi-year core funding from public sources.

    • Must have delivered or will deliver an event between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026.

    • Must not have received more than £315,000 Minimal Financial Assistance subsidy over the last 3 years


    Ineligible Applicants

    • Organisations with an annual turnover exceeding £500,000.

    • Organisations currently in receipt of NPO or other multi-year core funding from public sources.

    • For-profit organisations or those without a clear public benefit.


    How to Apply & Selection Process

    Organisations can request an application form and guidance pack from: culturesheffield@sheffield.gov.uk


    Organisations will be selected based on the following criteria:

    • Alignment with the programme’s objectives, particularly around increasing sustainability and resilience.

    • Commitment to diversity in leadership (disability, ethnicity, socio-economic representation).

    • Proven track record of delivering successful cultural events.

    • Clear rationale for funding need, demonstrating how support will contribute to event and organisational growth.


    The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 28th July 2025.

    Applications will be assessed by a panel, and successful applicants will be notified by 4th August 2025.

  • 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
    • 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

    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.

  • Culture Club, 10th June 2025

    Culture Club kicks off on 10th June 2025 with the first of our long-awaited sector socials at the Alder in Kelham. This will be a networking event designed to bring together the brilliant minds that drive Sheffield’s vibrant culture scene.

    Each event will spotlight local talent, with Culture Club 1 featuring Sound Café, a platform that celebrates the richness of African music and creativity. Join us to connect, collaborate and be part of the movement powering Sheffield’s ambitious Culture Strategy.

    PS. There will be an opportunity to contribute a few words for our upcoming mini-doc about culture and Strategy delivery in Sheffield. Details on the night.

    Sign up here!

Page last updated: 17 Dec 2025, 03:12 PM