The Sheffield Culture Bulletin
Read on for a stacked roundup of culture sector opportunities. Expect artist commissions, job vacancies, freelancer training, workshops and much more.
As ever, please submit to our bulletin as far in advance as possible to guarantee inclusion. You can also email in your images to be platformed on our channels!
Now, let's get into it.
 Sound Café at Culture Club 1, Credit Ai Narapol
Culture Sheffield opportunities & events
All our events and opportunities are updated regularly on the Culture Hub. If you want to find out what's on in-between bulletins, head over to our site.
Development Manager for Culture Programmes
We are excited to offer an excellent opportunity to join our team at Sheffield City Council as our development lead for Culture Programmes.
This pivotal role will support the delivery of our strategic ambitions for culture across the city, championing Sheffield’s Culture Strategy and ensuring it continues to inspire, engage, and enrich our communities for years to come.
Join us at The National Videogame Museum this spring for some networking and cool installations. This time, we've invited Rock, Paper, Wizards, who are bringing a vibrant LED experience where duelling wizards cast spells against one another.
There’ll be plenty of open networking time for you to meet other creatives and culture sector workers, plus a space for call-outs where you can share opportunities, events and ideas with the room.
See you there!
Free workshops for creative freelancers
From Idea to Event, 25th February 2026 - Great events don't just happen. This workshop gives you the inside track on turning creative ideas into smooth, professional events.
Creative Connections: Networking for Creative Freelancers, 18th March 2026 - Come meet other freelancers in Sheffield. You’ll learn simple ways to connect with others start conversations without feeling awkward or 'salesy'. The session is introvert-friendly and neurodivergent-aware, with no forced small talk.
Our other events
Disability Awareness Training, 20th February 2026 - We are partnering with Quiplash to deliver a beginner-friendly session on disability politics, disability justice and ways to create meaningful access.
Creative Futures Leadership Development Day, 26th February 2026 - Are you a mid-career leader in Sheffield’s creative and cultural sector? Come sharpen your leadership skills, expand your network and plan your next steps.
Culture, Climate & the Power of Imagination, 27th February 2026 - A creative workshop exploring how culture and imagination can inspire hopeful, optimistic responses to the climate emergency.
Alcohol and Drug Awareness Training for Music Venues, 12th March 2026 - Basic drug and alcohol awareness, best practice around spiking/prevention and safeword schemes.
Planning for Music: Sheffield Best Practice Guide Launch with MVT, 25th March 2026 - Culture Sheffield has partnered with Music Venue Trust to produce a new Best Practice Planning Guide for Sheffield, focused on how new development near grassroots music venues can successfully coexist.
On 17th February, our recent video about arts and culture in Sheffield will be screened at the Showroom alongside some other great short films. We'll answer some Qs about the video and briefly expand on the work of our team.
This free monthly event is run by the South Yorkshire Filmmakers' Network and it is the longest continuously running short film night in the country!
For those of you that are unable to attend: Sheffield is home to more than 2,000 cultural businesses as well as 16,000 creative freelancers. But what does this look like, and what do they do? Well...
 50+CDS presenting 'The Fallen' at Graves Gallery, Credit David Lindsay
Cultural networks in Sheffield
Our new site platforms all sorts of useful sector resources but this time round, let's look at some local cultural networks.
Cultural networks bring together artists, organisations, and communities around shared aims. They are powerful “engine rooms” for collaboration, a reflection of Sheffield’s cooperative spirit and a key driver of the city’s Culture Strategy.
Check out some of these groups here:
Festivals and Events Network - A group for organisers and representatives of Sheffield-based festivals and similar events.
Classical Sheffield Network - A group that brings together the classical music scene in South Yorkshire.
The African Heritage Culture Forum - A group for for anyone interested in the authentic celebration of African heritage arts and culture.
We’re building a collection of successful Arts Council England (ACE) bids from Sheffield organisations to help increase cultural investment in the city.
You can contact us to access this bid bank, or share your own bid for other people to benefit from. Find out more at the bottom of our opportunities page.
Our website is dedicated to culture sector support, but if you are looking for 'What's on' pages, there are other useful resources to keep your eye on. Click the title link for our latest events update.
Welcome to Sheffield and Our Favourite Places also both have great events pages, with OFP having just released their 2026 festivals guide.
We have began filming a minidocumentary about the importance of arts and culture in this city, so stay tuned for in the coming weeks for its release.
If you have footage from your cultural events that you'd like to submit for this video, read our submissions guidance here and we may be able to feature it.
 Kent Roach being interviewed for a Culture Sheffield video at SADACCA
Training, workshops & networking
Getting to know The National Lottery Heritage Fund, 23rd February 2026 - This event is for groups and organisations working in Sheffield, particularly those interested in developing projects between £10,000 and £250,000.
Creating a Funding Strategy for your Group, 24th February 2026 - Outline a plan and prioritise your fundraising based on the specifics of your project.
Business Networking Breakfast, 24th February 2026 - Connect with local businesses to get support on funding, recruitment, training and business advice.
Writers Day 2026, 7th March 2026 - Writers Day 2026 features a variety of published authors and publishing professionals who'll share their expertise and experience.
Connecting Creatives: Create Sheffield Monthly Networking, 11th March 2026 - Join for their regular, informal networking event for creatives working with children and young people.
The 2026 Leadership & Communication Power Series, Spring 2026 - This series begins on 11th February with insights from Billal Jamil, a globally recognised speaker, coach, and trusted leadership strategist.
Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance International Conference, 7th - 9th October 2026 - How can we come together to affect deep and much-needed systemic change around Creative Health?
AcessAble Webinars 2026 - AccessAble host monthly access webinars every second Tuesday of the month, designed for tourism and hospitality businesses.
ACE Diversity Development Programme 2026 - This free development programme is designed to support diverse-led cultural organisations with business development, governance, finances and fundraising.
Artist opportunities
British Mycological Society artist opportunity - Are you an artist interested in all things fungi? This commission maybe for you!
Yorkshire Dance opportunities - From discounted studio space to dance partner projects in the North of England, you can get involved.
Sensoria Festival 2026 Call for Submissions - They’re open to all suggestions from film, music and the visual arts.
Dance and Creative Health opportunity in Barnsley - Be part of an exciting programme to improve physical activity, wellbeing and social connection among older adults.
Upskilling programme for TV freelancers - Prime Video Pathway (PVP) has partnered with the National Film and Television School to support the reskilling and upskilling of TV freelancers.
Dance Teaching opportunity in South Yorkshire - Theatre Squad UK are looking for connections to help run fun, inclusive sessions across loads of different styles.
 Off the Shelf Festival 2025 at the Crucible, Credit Lucy Worsley
Job/volunteering vacancies
Looking for a fresh start? Follow our LinkedIn for regular updates and see the below list for some great vacancies.
Development Manager for Major Events at SCC - You'll work with Marketing Sheffield and the Major Events team to help secure events that deliver economic, social and cultural impact for our city.
Guest Programmer at Migration Matters Festival - Migration Matters Festival is a 9-day multi-arts festival in Sheffield celebrating the positive impact of migration.
Film Programme Coordinator at DocFest - You’ll be a vital part of the team for Sheffield DocFest 2026.
Programme Manager at Music in the Round - Music in the Round is seeking a Sheffield Programme Manager to help manage their programme of concerts and events in Sheffield, including their annual Chamber Music Festival.
Learning Manager at Wentworth Woodhouse - They are looking for an experienced and passionate individual to lead the development and delivery of high-quality, inclusive learning programmes.
Bloc Projects Chair of Board - Bloc Projects is a contemporary arts organisation and charity who support the development of early to mid-career artists and present art that encourages new ways of thinking about our world.
Creative Health Leads Programme - Be a part of integrating Creative Health into prevention, population health, clinical pathways and neighbourhood models of care.
English Touring Opera roles - ETO are seeking new members to join their busy team as they relocate to Sheffield.
Centre Director at Greentop Circus - They are seeking a Centre Director to lead them in inspiring young people’s creativity and learning, strengthening communities and developing artists.
HR Manager at Sheffield Museums - They're looking for a supportive HR & Payroll Manager to play a key-role in all people-related matters!
Sector resources & support
Below is just a taster of the support you can tap into. You can find many more resources for artists/creatives, VCSEs and cultural organisations on our website.
Yorkshire East and South-East Asian Creatives Group - A platform for Yorkshire-based East and South-East Asian (ESEA) artists from all artistic practices to connect. Join their WhatsApp group via the above link.
Let's Create Peer Learning Programme - Let’s Create is an Arts Council England network, which provides the opportunity to connect with others working in place, share resources and join our upcoming events.
Funding support in Sheffield - On this page you'll find essential funding directories, resources for funding advice, bid writing support and more.
Artworks Alliance: Participatory Arts resources - A self-organising community for people who are involved in using creativity to achieve positive social change.
Putting on an event in Sheffield? - Check out our 'Promoting your work' section to find out how you can tap into free local promotional resources.
Get started in publishing - Whether you're at university and thinking about going into books and publishing as a career, or you've already graduated and are already applying for entry-level role, this course provides essential info.
Submit your images to our website/bulletin - Send in your media to show off your creative work/events on our channels.
 Shout out cards at Culture Club 3, Credit Jade Ayino
Grants & funding
British Film Institute and National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund - The BFI want to ensure everyone can create original screen work, from first-time creators to world-class professionals.
Beyond Literature Borders Grants - They're offering five grants of £7,000 to organisations that are diverse-led and/or working with underrepresented voices.
The Movement Fund - They offer up to £15,000 for physical activity projects in the community.
Grant Priorities: Historic England - Find out about eligiblity rulings and grant priorities for Historic England.
FCS Associates - South Yorkshire Grants - There's a number of great funds available to VCSEs in SY right now. Go to the FCS website to find out more.
Call-outs
Nominate Sheffield's Intangible Cultural Heritage... - From sword-dancing to Hendos, we are calling on Sheffielders to put local traditions on the national map. Submit your nomination to UNESCO via the above link.
Museum Collections Survey - This survey asks for information about your museum collection and its upkeep.
News & interesting stories
University of Sheffield Freelancer's Guild - A new freelance support network for staff and students at the UoS. What a great initiative! More info to follow soon.
CBeebies star visits new Sheffield exhibition - George Webster recently visited ArtWorks Together, a new exhibition at the Millennium Gallery showcasing artwork by autistic/disabled artists from around the globe.
Culture Sheffield blogs - A sector news page with interesting local and national updates.
Warp Films on their 'golden moment' - Mark Herbert and Niall Shamma reflect on the whirlwind behind Adolescence and the momentum reshaping Sheffield’s creative scene.
Government announces £1.5 billion package to restore national pride - Funding for our treasured cultural venues will ensure vital, affordable and welcoming spaces are available for communities to come together.
Older people in the creative arts - Engaging with arts and culture activities is a critical step in building digital confidence in older people, according to a new University of Sheffield report.
Government announces support package that backs British pubs - The Chancellor is backing British pubs with a major support package, recognising the vital role they play in building strong local communities.
National Lottery Open Week - Anyone who visits a National Lottery supported project during this week and shows a National Lottery ticket, Instant Win Game, or scratchcard is able to take up a special offer.
National Youth Strategy - Part of this new initiative is to put creativity back into the heart of education and communities.
Music Venues Trust 2025 Report - They warn that the grassroots sector remains ‘financially fragile’.
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