It's a miracle Sheffield isn't already the UK's City of Culture
Sheffield is going up against the likes of Blackpool, Inverness-Highland and Wrexham for the title
Sheffield is the home of Pulp, Arctic Moneys and the World Snooker Championships - it’s a miracle we’re not already known as the City of Culture.
A lot is rightly written about the Steel City’s proud industrial heritage and our history of creating impeccable metal works that were shipped around the world.
And while this undoubtedly deserves celebrating and remembering, for people of my generation it’s the arts that stands out as one of our great exports.
Everyone knows the big ones; Pulp and Arctic Monkeys are international successes who draw in packed out crowds wherever they go.
They are spectacular talents who deserve all the praise that gets lobbed their way.
But then there’s the others - Bring Me The Horizon might not be a household name in the same way, but their rock anthems have built them a loyal fanbase with chart topping releases.
Then there’s Def Leppard, the Human League and Reverend and the Makers, the latter of which are enjoying sitting at the top spot with this year’s unofficial England World Cup anthem ‘Silence Is Talking’.
And it’s not just music, actor Sean Bean has charmed the world in blockbusters from Lord of the Rings to James Bond, while Park Hill’s own Warp Films garnered international celebration for the ground-breaking Netflix show Adolescence.
As a teenage wannabe filmmaker, visiting Warp’s office was such an exciting moment for me, with the world of television quickly opening up afterward as Doctor Who was being filmed right on my doorstep the very same year.
All of this is bolstered by incredible grassroots talent who work tirelessly to make sure every street has something special to offer.
Sheffield doesn’t brag about itself enough, and it’s so easy to forget just how much there is here - I’ve not even had chance to mention the likes of Pete McKee and Luke Horton.
We are the home of football, the stage for the World Snooker Championships and the birthplace of Henderson’s Relish.
Not to mention that we have the country’s best local newspaper.
When explaining the need for the City of Culture initiative, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country. The UK City of Culture and new UK Town of Culture competitions recognise the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation.”
I would argue Sheffield has contributed more than most to the identity of the UK, and it’s time we get an opportunity to brag about that.