Agenda item

4.1

Rebecca Maddox (Head of Business Development, Culture) gave a presentation on the proposed new Cultural Strategy for Sheffield to the Local Area Committee (LAC) and members of public in attendance.

4.2

Rebecca Maddox explained that: -

•       Culture is about how we all live.

•       Culture is the people of Sheffield's creativity, knowledge, traditions and passions.

•       Culture improves our quality of life, wellbeing and sense of place.  It drives our economy.

4.3

The previous Sheffield City Council Cultural Strategy came to an end in 2013. In September 2022 Sheffield City Council adopted a strategy created by Sheffield Culture Collective as an interim, recognizing that a co-created Cultural Strategy for Sheffield needed to be developed for the longer-term.

4.4

A good cultural strategy is based on listening to cultural organisations, creatives, communities and partners. It creates ownership, direction, priorities and profile, and drives change.

4.5

Rebecca Maddox explained how the new Strategy would help Sheffield. It was explained that the cultural sector, communities and partners like South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority will create an agreed strategy therefore we are all moving in the same direction. The Strategy will help hear from quieter voices and diverse communities. It was added that Sheffield misses out on national funding due to a lack of clarity and profile, and the Strategy will help with this. It would also be a way to shout about the talents, diversity and creativity of the city.

4.6

Rebecca Maddox mentioned that the next steps would be for Sheffield City Council to recruit some skilled consultants as she is the only permanent culture staff member. The consultants will build on best practice from other cities and the views of the residents of Sheffield. She added that Information gathered from this workshop session will be added into the mix, with more opportunities to get involved through LACs once the consultants were in place.

4.7

The process was anticipated to take approximately 6-8 months therefore Sheffield’s new Culture Strategy was expected to be published sometime in Autumn 2023.

4.8

In response to a public question, Rebecca Maddox mentioned that Sheffield has a large number of smaller individual creatives, some more middle-sized organisations and then only a small number of larger organisations such as Sheffield Theatres and Sheffield Museums. Rebecca Maddox believed that the Arts Council should consider funding more Sheffield organisations and creatives.

4.9

A Member of the public commented on how public consultation was a key part of the process. Rebecca Maddox agreed with this comment.

4.10

In response to a public question, Rebecca Maddox gave a brief update on 4 projects included in the Collective Strategy.

S1 ArtSpace at Park Hill has been successful with Levelling Up Funding and the project is continuing to develop.

Harmony Works Music Education Centre has also gained Levelling Up Funding and will achieve their project with a mix of funding sources. 

Tinsley Art Project is being reworked within budget and more information would be released shortly.

Future plans for the Central Library Building are being considered by Officers and Members. A decision is needed on whether the Library and Graves Gallery will continue to share the building, based on feasibility assessments.

4.11

In response to a public question, Rebecca Maddox explained that consultants would need use various platforms to hear from those quieter voices in the city. It would be beneficial to use networks already in place to consult with Sheffielders on the strategy. She added that she welcomed any ideas on how to reach quieter voices in Sheffield.

4.12

Councillor Brian Holmshaw mentioned that he had worked in heritage education for the past 20 years therefore he knew first hand of the issues being raised at the meeting. He agreed that consultation was a key part of the process but recognised that it needed to be more about engagement, especially with those middle-sized and smaller organisations. He welcomed discussing this in more detail within the workshop session.