New SYCF fund launched to support Sheffield’s culture sector

Expected to open for grant applications later this year, it will award grants to support small projects that strengthen communities, improve wellbeing, develop skills, celebrate heritage and diversity and enhance pride in local identity and place.

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation is the region’s largest grant-giving charity. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Foundation has awarded more than £40 million in grants to grassroots organisations across South Yorkshire over the past four decades.

The announcement comes as Sheffield celebrates being longlisted for UK City of Culture 2029, recognising the strength and vibrancy of its cultural scene.

Martin Singer DL, Chief Executive of South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, said: “This investment in the Sheffield Arts and Culture Fund will provide vital support for grassroots projects that bring people together, celebrate local identity and cultural diversity and help build thriving communities.

“We’re proud to be partnering with generous local philanthropists and Culture Sheffield to create a lasting source of funding for the city’s cultural sector. But this is just the beginning.

“Over the coming months, we’ll be working to attract further investment and grow the fund so it can support even more community organisations and creative projects across Sheffield.

Our ambition is to build a permanent community fund that benefits future generations, and we invite businesses, organisations and individuals to be part of that vision. Every contribution, large or small, will create opportunities for local people and strengthen Sheffield’s cultural life.

 

The fund is being supported by Sheffield City Council’s Culture Sheffield team, forming part of the Council’s 10-year Culture Strategy, which aims to ensure that everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Sheffield can benefit from arts and culture.

A spokesperson for Sheffield City Council, said: “Culture Sheffield have partnered with SYCF on this fund to drive more investment into Sheffield’s culture sector. This has been a clear strategic objective of the Culture Strategy from the outset, and the Sheffield Arts and Culture Fund aims to support community-based culture projects and small arts organisations who are currently doing fantastic work with limited resources.   

“The Culture Strategy is a 10-year vision to ensure that everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Sheffield has the opportunity to benefit from arts and culture. Culture Sheffield was set up to act on this ambition alongside arts organisations and creatives in the city, though the positive impact of this fund goes beyond just the arts sector.

An increase in cultural programmes leads to increased community cohesion, reduced social isolation and improvements to physical and mental health. This is an investment in the wellbeing of local people. 

 

“Our longlisting for UK City of Culture is a fantastic reflection of the spirit of our cultural scene, but we need to support the organisations who make this city what it is. This grant scheme puts Sheffield in an even better position as we begin constructing the UKCoC bid, and we’re looking forward to seeing the programmes that come out of it!”

SYCF patron and long-term supporter of the Foundation, Neil MacDonald OBE, said: “I am delighted to support the launch of the new Sheffield Arts and Culture Fund.

Sheffield has a thriving cultural sector, and at its heart are amazing community organisations and projects. This fund will provide much needed financial support for these grass roots organisations to ensure they thrive and continue to benefit our local communities.

I would urge others to join this initiative. Creating a lasting source of funding must be the goal, so that we can invest even more in our local people.

 

Linda Bloomfield from RivelinCo – an arts group delivering creative programmes in community venues across north Sheffield, said: “We're delighted to hear about the new SYCF grant, which aims to support grassroots arts and culture in Sheffield. We are a small cultural organisation working with communities across North Sheffield - our work supports people of all ages and backgrounds to come together, develop new skills, build confidence, and celebrate pride in place. Most of our work is free at the point of access, so we can't do what we do without this kind of support. We're excited to see the big difference it will make in our neighbourhood and many others.”