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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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Westhill Lane

Book and record shop Rare and Racy is no longer with us but at least we can enjoy the Phlegm mural round back while it's still standing. The cosmic scene features planets hanging from claw machines and astronomers whose eyes bulge through telescopes.

Peter Griffiths

For his recent screen printing project, The Plant Room, Peter spent the summer gathering inspiration in community gardens.

Tommi Bryson

A theatremaker whose work centres on community, representation and comedy. Tommi co-hosts monthly variety performance night Sounds Queer, and is currently developing a one-woman musical about a trans Disney princess.

GLOAM Gallery

GLOAM is an exhibition and studio space, run by a collective of six artists. Look out for exhibitions here, often shining a spotlight on emerging contemporary artists from across the north.