Commissions awarded as part of year-long celebration of '˜making' in Sheffield

Sheffield's cultural and business community came together to officially launch the first commissions awarded as part of a year-long celebration of '˜making' in the city.

The Year of Making Sheffield 2016 has started with a £80,000 boost to 13 organisations and individuals to help promote and showcase local talent and expertise.

Five core themes are to be celebrated as part of the project - art and design, manufacturing and industry, film and literature, heritage, and music and performance.

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The first commissions as part of the year-long celebration range from a pioneering electronic music event to a month-long celebration of the links between the arts and advanced engineering.

Photographer Shaun Bloodworth has been commissioned to produce a series of music only films to show the traditions of craftmaking and cutting edge design, spanning the gap between the traditional side of Sheffield’s manufacturing history

through to products aimed squarely at a younger market.

Urging backing for more projects, Kim Streets, Chief Executive of Museums Sheffield, said: “Let’s make the Year of Making the beginning of something.

“Let’s show the nation what our city is made off.”

Organisers are inviting businesses to sponsor applicants who were not successful in the first round of commissions.

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Ms Streets added: “There were 65 applications with some really great ideas and the panel had a tough job selecting only 13.

“Therefore we have retained these and are looking to link these up with businesses looking to support the Year of Making Sheffield 2016 and to become part of the programme.

“It is a perfect way for them to become involved and we have a team who are now acting as a matchmaking service.”

Mistress Cutler Karen McKay said: “Sheffield folk have making in their DNA.”