Cultural Strategy for Sheffield Consultant

Tender description

Creating a Place-based 2030 Culture Strategy for Sheffield Expressions of interest are invited for a significant commission to develop a 2030 Cultural Strategy for Sheffield. This should include a road map with clear milestones to drive delivery and a more detailed 3 year action plan. This work is being commissioned by Sheffield City Council (SCC), with financial support from the University of Sheffield and Arts Council England (ACE). It is intended to be a co-created City-level strategy reflecting the views and input of the sector, relevant partners and communities. Sheffield City Council has not renewed a Council Cultural Strategy in the last 10 years. During this time, the Sheffield Culture Consortium (Consortium), a working group of cultural organisations supported by SCC, has applied for funding to support the sector, including for festivals development, a cultural information website (www.ourfaveplaces.co.uk) and a 3-year development programme for artists. In 2019, a new strategic cross-sector group with SCC senior officer and Member representation was set up following ACE’s Cultural Cities Enquiry. The Sheffield Culture Collective (Collective) includes private sector, higher education, health, City Council and culture reps; it launched its strategy in June 2021. This strategy sought to place culture and creativity at the heart of Sheffield’s economic and social future. This is a focus that SCC shares. In September 2022, SCC formally adopted the Sheffield Culture Collective Strategy to provide direction and clarity. However, it was agreed that this was an interim step before working with Consortium and Collective, to develop a new City Culture Strategy. Importantly, this would build on the Culture Collective Strategy, to respond to the recommendations of the Race Equalities Commission (REC) and to ensure community engagement and ownership of the new strategy. The new 2023 City Culture Strategy is the subject of this commission.