Sheffield is celebrating today after being named on the longlist to become UK City of Culture 2029 – important recognition of the city’s ambition to showcase its creativity, talent and identity on a national and international stage.
Sheffield is one of nine places across the UK to be longlisted. Each area will now receive £60,000 to develop a full bid.

This recognition reinforces what we all know - that Sheffield is one of the UK’s most exciting cultural places and reflects the confidence, momentum and creative energy building across the city. Home to globally influential music, film, art, gaming, major events, performance and a world-class grassroots cultural scene, Sheffield’s bid is rooted in community, creativity and pride of place.

The longlist announcement coincides with a huge wave of national interest in culture-led transformation, but Sheffield’s submission stands apart – centred on a culture made with and by the people, powered by independence, collaboration and a long history of creativity that starts in its neighbourhoods and reaches across the world. It reflects the ambition to take Sheffield to the world and bring the world to Sheffield. 

We are incredibly proud that our city has been longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029. Sheffield inspires and our city has always been powered by creativity. We don’t just put culture on a stage, we live it, make it and share it with the world. Grown from the ground up, our culture is shaped by everyone that calls Sheffield home.

Culture isn’t separate from how Sheffield grows, it’s part of how we build a stronger, more confident city. It brings people in, creates jobs and joy, supports our independent artists and businesses, and helps talent choose to stay and build their future here.

This is a brilliant moment for our city and a chance to showcase the confidence, creativity and ambition that defines Sheffield today. Let’s dream big and celebrate loudly!

Councillor Tom Hunt, Former Leader of Sheffield City Council

Sheffield’s creative sector is one of the fastest growing in the UK. Nearly 25,000 creatives live and work in the city and wider region, contributing over £1bn a year to the economy. Culture is already embedded in the city’s long-term plans for growth, skills, talent and international reputation.

The longlisting recognises the excellent work already underway in the city, including Harmony Works – the new home for inspirational music education; Events Central – a new Cultural Industries Hub on Fargate; growth planned for the Castlegate heritage quarter; continued investment in Sheffield Museums; and new opportunities linked to the city’s thriving media, music and digital sectors.
Ground-up, city-wide and community-led

Sheffield’s bid is intentionally ambitious and inclusive: a whole-city programme which will be shaped with residents, cultural organisations, education partners, businesses and community groups. The vision spans all seven hills – from rural villages to the city centre – and celebrates Sheffield’s identity as a city of makers, activists, artists, technologists, performers and storytellers.

The themes Our Voice, Our Place, Our People will guide a programme that boosts local pride, grows cultural participation in every neighbourhood and showcases Sheffield to the world.

Next steps

Sheffield will now begin developing its full bid, building on its Culture Strategy – co-created with communities and praised nationally for its collaborative approach – and working with partners across the city to shape a programme that is bold, inclusive and transformative.

The UK City of Culture 2029 winner is expected to be announced later this year.
The gallery’s changing exhibition programme showcases the best in national and international art and design alongside the region’s remarkable creative talents. You’ll also find collection displays celebrating Sheffield’s metalworking prowess and the remarkable art and artefacts brought to the city by the artist and writer, John Ruskin.

Sheffield’s Metalwork Collection is one of the finest in the world. You’ll see over 800 examples of the cutlery, flatware and tableware that have made the city famous, as well as beautiful objects collected from every continent.

However there are smaller galleries as well. One of the most famous is the Cupola Gallery in Hillsborough which has specialised in contemporary art from the many creatives in Sheffield over the past 35 years. Cupola, a private, non funded, contemporary gallery,  was established in 1991 to provide exhibition and sales opportunities for contemporary artists and fine craft makers in Sheffield.  Established unusually between a betting shop and a laundrette in an 'unfashionable' part of town, Hillsborough, many said it would never last. Despite many trials, not least the installation of Sheffield's light rail network, Supertram,  Cupola has endured floods, recession, the financial crash & a pandemic.

On Brown Street is the Site Gallery Sheffield’s international contemporary art space, specialising in moving image, new media and performance.

Pioneering emerging art practices and ideas, a working partnership with local, regional and international collaborators to nurture artistic talent and support the development of contemporary art connecting people to artists and to art, inspiring new thinking and debate through exhibitions, talks, events and other public activity.

Site Gallery works with early career to established artists to commission new work, produce solo and group shows, deliver residencies, performances, events and community programme. Through diverse programming, revealing the process of making art and inviting audiences and participants to engage, explore and connect.

Fronteer Gallery is a contemporary art space  at Orchard Square, Sheffield. The gallery hosts a varied programme of open call exhibitions, events and workshops.
From October 2020 Fronteer have run their own gallery in the heart of Sheffield, which seeks to provide a full programme of events, exhibitions and opportunities. As artists themselves they also have a studio at Exchange Place Studios, just around the corner from their gallery.

S1 Art Space has been going strong for over 20 years; providing a home to over 130 artists (including the international award-winning Haroon Mirza) during this time, and presenting numerous major exhibitions, including works by artists such as Michael Fullerton, Jessica Warboys, Jeremy Deller and Hito Steyerl. Since relocating in 2016, it’s also gained the added allure of now being based in a former garage block of Sheffield’s iconic Park Hill estate.

Bloc Projects, 71 Eyre Lane, Sheffield, S1 4RB 

The classic ‘former-industrial-building-turned-blank-gallery-space’, Bloc Projects has been exhibiting work by early to mid-career artists for over 15 years, and runs a year-round programme of interdisciplinary screenings, performances, talks and education activities.Established in 2002, Bloc Projects is a contemporary arts organisation in the centre of Sheffield. We focus on the support and development of contemporary artists at pivotal points of their careers. We provide a safe and stimulating environment that is free for the public to explore ideas and creative practices. We work closely with other local art organisations, universities and charities to ensure that our activities welcome a diverse and intergenerational demographic. Our expansive programme provides opportunities for cross-disciplinary and participatory learning, meaningful arts engagement, and skill development for creative practitioners as well as wider publics.

Sheffield Institute of Arts’ Gallery is home to a range of changing exhibitions, from historic graphic design to contemporary fine art. With free admission, the gallery is open daily during exhibitions.

The Sheffield Institute of Arts’ roots can be traced back to 1843 – when the Sheffield School of Design was founded to provide skilled designers to support Britain’s industry. With a rich history spanning 170 years, the Sheffield Institute of Art (SIA) now sits within Sheffield Hallam University as the city’s art school and an integral part of Sheffield’s art scene.

You’ll find SIA occupying one of Sheffield’s most iconic buildings – the Grade II listed old Post Office building on Fitzalan Square. With heavy oak doors, parquet flooring and grand spiral staircase among its original features, the Edwardian building offers an inspiring backdrop. Dedicated to showcasing the work of artists and makers and nurturing creativity, the school boasts impressive alumni; animator Nick Park, designer David Mellor, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and author Marina Lewycka all studied at SIA.

Situated in one of the former cutlery factories is APG Works – a two-room contemporary art exhibition space, screenprint studios and framing workshop.

With an intimate gallery space that regularly hosts exhibitions of work by local, national and international artists, the organisation, which was founded in 2002, has worked with some of Sheffield’s finest graphic artists over the years.

A place of collaboration and consultation, you’ll find expert screen printers and picture framers on hand too. With over 15 years of picture framing and screenprinting experience, the gallery staff have worked on many exciting and rewarding projects and bring a wealth of knowledge. Dedicated to the hand-made, APG Works offers hand-pulled screen printing services – from limited edition prints for artists and designers to album sleeves for musicians.

Heartbeat Gallery Established in December 2011, Heartbeat Gallery specialises in fine quality paintings for the home, exhibiting a wide range of styles with an emphasis on landscape, animal, figurative and wildlife themes by contemporary artists. Heartbeat works with both well-established and upcoming artists with something to cater for all tastes. We aim to provide unique pieces at affordable prices, delivering an exceptional service with all you need to make an informed decision. We look forward to your visit.

In the north of the city , on Holme Lane can be found C&G Artpartment run by Clara Cheung who  is an active member of the non-profit art group Project226, and the founder of C&G Artpartment. From 2007 to 2021, she curated and co-curated more than 80 art exhibitions at C&G Artpartment, which situated in a “tong-lau” building apartment in Hong Kong. These exhibitions often critically responded to local social and cultural issues, including problems in the local art ecology. She was a member of Wan Chai District Council from Jan 2020 to July 2021, attempting to contribute to the local political scene in Hong Kong with her creative problem-solving skills. She is currently based in the UK, as one of the Hongkongers in exile who persist fighting for the liberation of Hong Kong. Besides continuing her artistic and curatorial practise, she is also a PhD candidate in the History of Art department at University of York.

Of course, studios by themselves are but one aspect of the creative process. They would be empty shells were it not for the many artists whose works grace their portals. 
The annual Open Up Artists' Studios festival showcases the work of 134 creatives working in Sheffield, producing a wide range of artistic endeavours. Do not, for one minute, think that these are the limit to Sheffield's creatives. There are a host of artists who are not represented in the brochure. Add in the works of those of previous generations and it becomes evident that Sheffield has contributed to the national art scene immensely. The reputation of Sheffield as an artistic location is enhanced by the sculptures of Francis Chantrey which can be seen in a variety of locations.