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Sheffield's Culture Strategy

Everything there is to know about our 10-year culture strategy for Sheffield.

We've developed a fresh vision for creativity, arts and culture in our city.

We want this vision to ensure that everyone who lives in Sheffield, works here or comes to visit has the opportunity to benefit from the wonderful contributions that our arts and culture bring.

What the strategy will do

The strategy will:

  • uncover and celebrate the story of Sheffield’s culture and creativity
  • foster conditions that allow organisations and creatives to thrive
  • ensure that young people can envision a future in Sheffield’s cultural landscape
  • facilitate collaboration and participation in a vibrant ecosystem of cultural work that serves communities throughout Sheffield

Our creative missions

The strategy has 3 creative missions, which are to ignite, accelerate and elevate cultural potential in Sheffield.

Ignite: Invest in the foundations for culture to thrive

We’re developing a leadership structure that gives everyone a chance to play a part in how Sheffield’s creative sector is run.

We want to give creative organisations and individuals the opportunity to access the spaces, skillsets, networks and tools they need to thrive.

We’re also going to bring more resources into the sector by establishing new funding mechanisms.

Accelerate: Boosting the sector’s creative potential sustainably

We want our creative economy to have:

  • more jobs
  • more investment
  • greater reach
  • a bigger profile 

Growing our creative sector will have positive social, environmental and economic impacts across the city. We're going to expand our creative health initiatives, which are creative activities that impact wellbeing, and develop a carbon literacy training programme for cultural organisations. 

We also want young people to have clear pathways to pursue creative passions and careers.

Elevate: Bring the world to Sheffield and Sheffield to the world

Everyone in the city should be able to experience the benefits of culture through participation, experiencing something new or developing their own creativity.

We want culture will be the world’s window into Sheffield and to attract more visitors.

We want our festivals, events and night-time economy to be:

  • internationally famous
  • sustainable
  • a reflection of our diverse communities

How we developed the strategy

We commenced a citywide consultation on culture in 2024. It included input from various figures in Sheffield’s creative community, which helped us shape this new initiative.

This strategy is built on the effort and ideas of many of the brilliant people across Sheffield’s creative sector, and we're indebted to them all for their energy and passion.

Our strategy's funding and development

The strategy was commissioned by:

  • Sheffield City Council
  • The University of Sheffield
  • Arts Council England 

It’s been delivered by:

  • Fourth Street, the creative consultancy
  • Opus Independents, the social enterprise
  • a team of cultural freelancers from the city

Sign up to our culture bulletin

We have started a bi-monthly bulletin that will feature updates, news and all things to do with culture in Sheffield. 

Sign up to the Sheffield culture bulletin

Contact Culture Sheffield

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Supporting information

Find out more about Sheffield's Culture Strategy on Have Your Say
Linkedin: Paid and volunteer opportunities from Culture Sheffield

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