Sheffield and South Yorkshire can boast a vibrant cultural community

18th January 2023

Culture enriches our lives, enhancing our well being and, importantly, is a vital ingredient for recruitment and attracting talent to the region.

The Sheffield Culture Collective is helping to amplify the range of cultural assets, helping to attract investment in culture and ensuring that culture is seen as a major economic driver.

The Sheffield Culture Collective was established in 2019 and is one of 33 Compacts in towns and cities in the UK set up by the Arts Council through some initial seed funding to support the local cultural sector and enhance its contribution to development, with a special emphasis on cross-sector engagement beyond the cultural sector itself and the local authority. Board members are drawn from local government, culture and creative industries, the voluntary sector, higher education and, uniquely to Sheffield’s Compact, the private sector with support from the Sheffield Property Association.

https://www.sheffield-culture-collective.co.uk/home/collective-board

Through additional funding from Sheffield City Council, the Universities and the private sector the Sheffield Culture Collective has been able to create an outline cultural strategy for the city that it didn’t have, and this has subsequently been adopted by the Council to be developed and broadened to ensure;  ‘every individual and every community in Sheffield thrives when culture and creativity is placed at the heart of the city’s strategic development’.

Activity is also aligned with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority.

The Collective has also supported major cultural projects such as Harmony Works and S1 Artspace that will significantly enhance the Sheffield offer. It is also committed to providing financial support for Sheffield based arts organisations that have been awarded National Portfolio status by the Arts Council. 

With more investment from the Arts Council and partners the Collective is now developing a message house for cultural good news and updates which will be available to all so these can be shared regionally and nationally helping to promote Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

Many businesses in the city already support arts and cultural organisations.  Interaction and participation in cultural activity is emotionally rewarding and fun so the Collective mission this year is to help you know more about what there is to engage with for yourselves, your employees and your families and friends – watch this space for a forthcoming event which will showcase the rich cultural landscape we have here!