Out & About: Creative Weekends in the Cultural Industries Quarter
In the summer of 2022, celebrations were held through a series of four Weekender events in Sheffield’s Cultural Industries Quarter (CIQ)*. The programme of free, family friendly social and cultural activity was funded through Sheffield City Council’s economic recovery fund and led by Site Gallery alongside additional partners The Showroom Workstation, Yorkshire Artspace and Bloc Projects.
Out & About brought together cultural, community and hospitality businesses in the area, alongside community groups, local artists and creatives to celebrate creativity and making in Sheffield.
About Out & About:
Each of the four Out & About Weekenders had its own theme, and was made up of drop-in creative workshops, activities, newly-commissioned artworks, exhibitions, performances and events – with the CIQ Square (opposite Site Gallery and The Workstation) acting as a central hub at the heart of the action. The square was transformed into an outdoor venue where you could hang out, buy food and drinks, and take part in a variety of exciting activities in the area with our map guide.
Urban Futures
What could the future of our city look like? And what part can we all play in the shaping of our urban environment? What changes would you like to see in your own city in 10, 100 or even 1000 years into the future?
Exploring themes of architecture, urban planning and alternative realities, the Urban Futures Weekender was a chance to ask these questions and to explore radical possibilities for the future of our urban environment with family-friendly activities and events.
Freshly Squeezed
Freshly Squeezed was a two day festival of live music and workshops programmed by and for young people, featuring a selection of the most talented young musicians and producers in the city. The Saturday was programmed by Hope Works and featured live performances by artists who have taken part in Pattern and Push, their talent competition for rappers and singers in South Yorkshire. The Sunday was programmed by DINA and their Young Producers. We also launched our zine made in collaboration with Andro and Eve and Site Gallery’s Society of Explorers.
Paint Jam
The Paint Jam Weekender was a celebration of art and creativity in the public realm. Exciting new murals by nationally and internationally recognised artists were commissioned in a celebration of the city’s unique character, heritage and communities.
Sustainability
The Out & About programme culminated with the Sustainability Weekender. The weekend explored ideas of environmental, social and personal sustainability, featuring creative contributions from local community groups, environmentally conscious artists and creatives. The Weekender featured workshops that shared the joys of pickling, fermenting, gardening, seed saving and foraging.
*About the Cultural Industries Quarter:
The Cultural Industries Quarter sits between Sheffield city centre and the train station and is made up of several cultural businesses including Site Gallery, Showroom Cinema, Yorkshire Artspace, Bloc Projects and the Leadmill.
Between 2017 – 2020 organisations in the area worked with Sheffield City Council, with support from Arts Council England, to deliver a regeneration programme through public realm improvements, public art, and arts and community events.
Photos: Joe Horner, 2022.
