‘Sheffield has long punched above its weight’: Sheffield shortlisted for City of Culture
Sheffield ‘punches above its weight’ as city bids for culture title
Sheffield’s independent spirit, musical heritage and homegrown talent have been praised after the city was shortlisted to become UK City of Culture 2029.
The city has reached the next stage of the competition following a bid shaped by more than 1,400 people, with musicians, artists, community groups and residents helping to put forward a vision for Sheffield’s cultural future.
Fran Belbin, who is leading the City of Culture bid, said the team was “absolutely thrilled” by the announcement, with people cheering and celebrating the news.
Speaking at an event to mark the shortlist, she said the achievement was about more than reaching the next stage, highlighting the collaboration behind the bid.
“This bid was not developed behind closed doors by people in council offices, it was developed by more than 1,400 people across the city,” she said.
“In Sheffield, culture isn’t something that just belongs to a few institutions, it belongs to everybody, it belongs to the city.”
The bid’s theme is “grassroots to global”, reflecting Sheffield’s established cultural reputation and the creativity continuing to emerge from its communities.
Ms Belbin said the bid’s ambition was not only to deliver a year-long programme of events, but to leave a lasting legacy for the city.
She said this could include creating career pathways into cultural jobs, involving young people and raising their aspirations, as well as supporting a cultural sector that can struggle at times.
“There’ll be something for everybody in this programme,” she said, pointing to the different ways people engage with culture, from sport and cinema to music and art.
Musician Jon McClure, frontman of Reverend and the Makers, said Sheffield had “long since punched above its weight” culturally.
He pointed to the city’s music scene and its wider creative industries, including independent film company Warp Films, as evidence of Sheffield’s influence both nationally and internationally.
But he said it was the character of Sheffield and its people that made the city stand out from elsewhere.
“People have a very unique spirit in Sheffield, very independent,” he said, describing the city as strong-minded and distinctive.
He also highlighted Sheffield’s history of innovation, referencing the Crucible, the Bessemer process and football.
Mr McClure said the city’s geographical separation from other parts of the country, surrounded by hills, had contributed to its distinct identity, which was also reflected in its history and politics.
He argued that Sheffield had not always received the recognition it deserved, partly because it did not shout loudly enough about its achievements.
“I think we should have won already,” he said.
“We’ve been overlooked because probably we don’t shout about ourselves loud enough.
“I think it’s time we took control of that cultural narrative.”
Tom Bird, chief executive of Sheffield Theatres, said being shortlisted was “incredible recognition” for the city and its cultural output.
“Sheffield is a city of culture, we know it’s had a fantastic global impact from the pop music to the visual art that gets made here,” he said.
He also praised the city’s theatre scene, highlighting productions including Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Standing at the Sky’s Edge.
Mr Bird said Sheffield was a city of makers, with four theatres creating work in the city and continuing a tradition of producing original cultural work.
He said securing the City of Culture title could create more opportunities for local people to get involved, whether by attending performances or taking part in activities such as youth theatre.
Mr Bird said previous City of Culture programmes had demonstrated how an entire community could get behind the title, and how Sheffield now had a similar opportunity to bring people together and open up cultural experiences to communities across the city.
The team will now prepare for a final judging panel in December, when it will present its ideas and receive feedback as the competition continues.
Ms Belbin said the shortlist was a chance to thank everyone who had contributed to the bid and helped tell Sheffield’s story.
“It is a story worth telling and we are only just getting started,” she said.