Sheffield Showcase is back for its fourth year with a jam-packed weekend of culture and arts events taking place across the city. Featuring work by a multitude of artists, musicians, speakers, heritage enthusiasts and filmmakers, visitors are invited to explore the huge array of talent through a range of live shows and exhibits.
The collaborative showcase, taking place from 6th to 8th September, combines a wide variety of independent events hosted at many of Sheffield’s most beloved venues including parks, galleries, museums and clubs. The Steel City is gaining increasing recognition as a cultural hub of artistic talent, and with the weekend-long showcase boasting such an eclectic mix of events, workshops and exhibitions, it’s easy to see why.
Photo credit: Hawkins/Brown
One of the most notable events on this year’s programme offers the chance to ‘Walk the Streets in the Sky’ at Park Hill Flats. The Grade II listed building will open its balconies and corridors for free 90-minute tours led by its residents, where visitors will learn about the iconic history and legacy of the site, while also taking a trip to a refurbished flat.
The showcase will feature numerous exhibitions and open studios, including the annual Art in the Gardens festival at Sheffield Botanical Gardens. GLOAM Gallery will be home to Nathan Walker’s Twenty Truant Shapes, a fascinating exhibition exploring language, the body, sound and light. In addition, ArtWorks will be hosting an Open Studio visit at Wharncliffe Works – the organisation supports artists with learning disabilities, autism or both, to flourish and pursue their creative passions.
Art in the Gardens / Photo credit: Ian M Spooner
With Sheffield Heritage Open Days Festival taking place in September, the weekend showcase will also coincide with numerous heritage events including Sheffield Street Art Walks. The free walking-tours will explore the vibrant outdoor gallery made up of around 70 exhibits throughout Kelham Island and Neepsend, two iconic hubs in Sheffield’s art and industrial scene.
The lineup also includes a number of hands-on workshops, encouraging creatives from across the city to practise their craft or simply get inspired. ‘Write from the Art’ invites people to try their hand at creative writing, and is open to everyone from complete beginners to experienced poets and storytellers. Taking place in the Graves Gallery, visitors will explore the venue’s collection of artwork as a starting point for their own writing, in the hopes of kickstarting brand new creative journeys.
With a packed schedule of events across the showcase weekend, there’s something for everyone to explore as artists and creatives take visitors on a cultural journey through some of Sheffield’s most iconic locations.
Sheffield Showcase will take place at various venues across the city, 6th-8th September. Find the full programme of events and times here.
Words: Ruby Deakin
Top image: Sheffield Street Art Walk, Artist: Simon Wigglesworth-Baker
