This ambitious project aims to use creative methods to ask thousands of people living in six North Sheffield neighbourhoods questions about how they feel about where they live, and what they might like to change. The data will support co-design of an exciting, responsive community arts programme led by RivelinCo in collaboration with community partners, throughout 2026 and beyond.
The neighbourhoods are Hillsborough and Malin Bridge, Stannington, Parson Cross, Winn Gardens, Foxhill and Wisewood.
We are collecting this data in six different ways:
- A digital survey
- Physical postcards
- Six artist commissions, for socially engaged creative projects which ask the questions. Artists were recruited through an open call commission and selected by community panels, and each project is being delivered in collaboration with community partners.
- Discussions with community partners in each area
- Schools workshops
- Community group workshops
Many thanks to Arts Council England and Sheffield City Council’s Central and North Local Area Committees for the funding that is making this project possible. Details about the six creative projects and selected artists can be found below.
Eggs Collective, Stannington
‘Your Story Here’ will see the creation of a People’s Map of Stannington! It will start with playful, mysterious posters asking for anecdotes of things that have happened – big or small, happy or sad, eventful or ordinary. Residents will then come across pop-up story collection centres in outdoor public spaces, and at the end the co-created map will be unveiled and presented to the community.
The community partners for this project are Stannington Library, Stannington Food Bank and Christ Church Stannington.
Eggs Collective are a Manchester-based trio of female artists making sharp, fun and comic performances. They write, perform and produce projects for stages, screens and public places. Their work is politically charged, but always hospitable and kind.
Grace Jandrell, Hillsborough and Malin Bridge
Grace will be co-creating and hosting ‘The Hillsborough Corner Shop’ – a whimsical market stall installation that will pop up on the high street. Grace will work closely with local groups to create ‘stock’ for the shop, for example papier mâché fruit and vegetables, paper flowers, or lino printed fish. The public will be able to “purchase” these items, using ideas and feedback as the currency!
The community partners for this project are Hillsborough Exchange Shopping Centre, Age UK Sheffield and Artworks South Yorkshire.
Grace Jandrell is a Sheffield-based illustrator, print maker and mural artist. Her work is whimsical, colourful and celebrates the small moments of joy we can find in nature.
Sarah Lasoye and Wemmy Ogunyankin, Parson Cross
Sarah and Wemmy will host a series of exciting creative writing workshops for residents of Parson Cross, exploring themes related to home, place, and community – plus public poetry pop-up events in local spaces, inviting residents to have conversations with professional poets who will write personalised poems for them in response.
The community partners for this project are Parson Cross Initiative and Parson Cross Library.
Sarah Lasoye is a published poet and writer. Her debut chapbook Fovea / Ages Ago was published by Hajar Press in 2021, and her work has been featured in venues and festivals across the UK. Wemmy Ogunyankin is a writer, poet and visual anthropologist whose work centres around issues of identity, womanhood and social justice.
Ian Nesbitt, Winn Gardens
The Kitchen Table Mobile will be a special structure, a bit like a bike, featuring a fold-out kitchen, rain cover and seating. It will be co-designed and built in collaboration with Studio Polpo. The structure will tour Winn Gardens during the project, with guest chefs from the neighbourhood and beyond hosting meals and recorded conversations. At the end we’ll eat together and listen to the project broadcast locally and internationally via Radio Commons.
The community partners for this project are Zest and St John’s.
Ian Nesbitt has worked locally, nationally and internationally as a socially engaged artist since 2005. A key thread that runs deeply through his practice is working alongside people from marginalised communities and diverse cultural backgrounds, sharing stories, experiences, and food.
Jess Gibson, Foxhill
Jess will be hosting a great big Foxhill Party! A celebration. A good knees up. Think disco lights and a boogie with your neighbours. Jess will host collaborative workshops with local groups to plan and make decorations and activities for the party, and will also host two Public Living Rooms in unexpected places, inspired by Camerados.
The community partner for this project is Foxhill Forum.
Jess Gibson is a dance and movement artist who works in a multi-disciplinary way, and is interested in work that has a social impact, can build community, or has an edge of activism..
Jo Veal and Patrick Amber, Wisewood
Jo and Patrick will lead lantern making workshops themed around place, with people of all ages living in or attending school in Wisewood. Workshops will lead to a special evening lantern parade, with a procession and celebration in a local green space.
The community partners for this project are Wisewood Community Primary School and Friends of Wisewood and District.
Jo Veal is a community artist, musician and occupational therapist. She is particularly interested in creating art using natural and foraged materials. Patrick Amber has been delivering community arts projects for 25 years, and his passion is making incredible willow lanterns with others for spectacular events. .
