South Yorkshire stakes claim as cultural powerhouse with new plan to back world-class talent
Work is underway for a new £500,000 programme to help enhance South Yorkshire’s status as a cultural powerhouse
From the global sounds of Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, The Human League and Def Leppard to numerous stars of stage and screen like Dominic West and Sean Bean, it’s fair to say that Sheffield’s influence stretches far beyond its South Yorkshire borders.
“When it comes to culture, in South Yorkshire we know what we’re doing,” South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said.
“Our people, our places and our talent have lit up the world – from music and film to stage and screen.”
Mr Coppard’s comments come amid a new plan for South Yorkshire to back its world-class talent, creativity and heritage with targeted investment in an effort to make sure the success stories continue to come.
Launched at Yellow Arch Studios in Sheffield, the framework sets out a long-term plan to unlock the full potential of the region’s creative and cultural industries – already worth up to £2 billion to the economy and supporting more than 31,000 jobs.
The framework identifies six priority areas for investment, including telling South Yorkshire’s story on a national and international stage, supporting events and live spaces, investing in skills and talent, strengthening places and infrastructure, and backing innovation and cultural enterprise.
Work is underway for a new £500,000 programme, aligned to those priorities and it’s expected to open for applications in the coming months.
The framework will ensure culture plays a greater role in tackling some of the region’s biggest challenges - from improving health and wellbeing through creative practice, to supporting early years development, music education and youth-led leadership opportunities.
Mr Coppard continued: “We’ve always been a region of creative pioneers, and today we’re making culture that travels far beyond our borders. But we’re not about to rest on our laurels.
“The Creative and Cultural Investment Framework backs that talent with real investment – giving our creative and cultural industries the support they need to grow right here, and making sure South Yorkshire’s voice is heard loud and clear in song, on stage and on screen for years to come.
“It goes beyond just economic growth. We’re restoring pride in our places, creating real opportunities for our communities, and building the prosperity we all deserve.”
The plan also aims to enhance South Yorkshire’s case for both national and private investment, recognising that the region has at times been underfunded when compared to other areas of the country.
By setting out clear priorities and a unified regional voice, it will help attract new funding from organisations including Arts Council England and national government.
It builds on a strong track record of investment in South Yorkshire’s cultural and creative sector, including projects such as Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre, Rotherham’s Children’s Capital of Culture, and the development of Harmony Works in Sheffield.