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The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

Migration Matters Festival

Migration Matters 2024, photo by Smart Banda

In 2007 Sheffield became the UK’s first City of Sanctuary – a place that welcomes asylum-seekers and refugees, that offers a hand to people in need of safety. Held around Refugee Week each June, Migration Matters Festival is a celebration of diversity and the positive impact migration and refugees have in Sheffield.

The festival launched in 2016, the year of the Brexit referendum and Syrian refugee crisis. Each year the Migration Matters programme brings communities together over fantastic, globe-spanning variety of theatre, music, dance, workshops, exhibitions, and more.

Come back soon for dates and details of Migration Matters 2026.

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The Art House

A workshop space and occasional gallery, hidden away off busy Division Street. Try your hand at pottery, life drawing, textiles and watercolour, or join in a 'sip and paint' session over wine.

Tim Etchells

The writer, artist and artistic director has some amazing ideas on how to improve the city.

Society of Explorers

A curious, enthusiastic and creative collective of 14-to-19-year-olds, chatting, making and curating art from their Site Gallery base.

Howard Street

The distinctive graphic style of Rob Lee covers the gable end of a Sheffield Hallam University building opposite the Globe pub, in a commission to celebrate the tenth birthday of Now Then magazine. It's one of the stops on our Street Art Trail.