News: Gallery Town refresh for Rotherham

In 2025, Gallery Town will officially relaunch across Rotherham town centre, bringing a fresh wave of public art to the streets, with vibrant new artworks appearing on buildings and landmarks.

Rothbiz reported in May on FLUX Rotherham, the Creative People and Places programme which co-creates community art projects and events across the borough, reimagining of Gallery Town, which will see new artworks on display at some of the town’s best-known buildings and places, including All Saints Square, the Three Cranes pub on High Street and the Civic Theatre.

One of the most prominent installations will appear on the side of Rotherham Council's Bailey House, visible from the A630 (Centenary Way). This key site will honour the memory of Daniel Barnett, a gifted young artist and former student of Thomas Rotherham College and Rotherham College of Arts and Technology.

Before his untimely passing, Daniel had been accepted to study at Goldsmiths, University of London. A passionate advocate for cancer awareness, he appeared on national news channels, using his voice to campaign for teenage cancer support. He was also honoured as an Ambassador of Rotherham.

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Daniel's artwork, currently displayed as a striking 6m x 6m piece on Bailey House, reflects his deep creative spirit. His work has been shown at prestigious venues including Christie’s and Frieze Art Fair and is held in private collections.

In partnership with Daniel’s family, Gallery Town and FLUX Rotherham are launching a legacy art programme in his name. This annual opportunity invites young artists from Rotherham, aged 16–25, to submit uplifting, joyful 2D artworks for large-scale public display. Each year, one artwork will be selected for installation on Bailey House, ensuring Daniel’s legacy lives on by inspiring and supporting new talent.

Helen Jones, Programme Director of FLUX Rotherham, said: “Over the summer, people will start to see new artworks popping up across Rotherham, as we’re busy working behind the scenes with artists, community groups and schools to create new original works. We’re really thrilled to collaborate with Daniel’s family on commissioning a special piece for Bailey House, drawing on Rotherham’s amazing young talented artists.”

In All Saints' Square a new piece called Rotherham Remix is set to be on display. It was created by 25 students from Bramley Sunnyside Junior School with Ian Kirkpatrick whilst the contemporary artist was exhibiting at Wentworth Woodhouse. The artwork features flying fish, dragons, and robots in a vibrant vision of Rotherham.

Flux Rotherham has secured funding from the likes of the Arts Council and via Rotherham Children’s Capital of Culture.

Gallery Town website

Images: Google Maps

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News: New openings in Rotherham town centre

Something for your mind, body, soul and stomach! New openings in Rotherham town centre.

A new pilates studio is one of the first tenants to open in a converted Victorian mill in town.

Opening this week in Bridge Court, Opus Pilates has created a boutique studio which it describes as a "beautifully designed, high-end space where you can focus on strength, mobility, and well-being."

Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on balance, posture, strength and flexibility. The new Rotherham studio offers expert-led classes including Reformer, Mat Pilates and Barre.

Directors of the business are Shannon Cant and Tyler Williams.

A post on social media about the opening states: "More than just a Pilates studio - Opus is your new go-to for movement, mindfulness and modern wellness. From expertly-led classes and genuine connection to wellness shots, cold towels and post-workout drinks - it’s all in the details. Come for the Pilates, stay for the experience."

Rothbiz reported in 2022 that the former mill building had gone up for sale.

Situated close to Rotherham Central Station, the interesting property on Greasbrough Road was called Bridge Mill and has now been renovated and converted into five units - all of which are listed as being let.

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Across town on Grove Road, offices that were planned to be converted into flats have instead been repurposed as art space for ROAR (Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance).

The non profit is dedicated to supporting creative practices and promoting the arts in Rotherham. Studio space is being offered to artists, makers, and creative professionals.

In the Old Town Hall, final preparations are being made for the opening of a new entertainment venue.

Rothbiz reported last month on PokiLee's PokiWorld securing planning permission to enable an expansion into a next door unit.

The Pokémon-themed shop and café is set to open the Evolution Arcade soon.

On the High Street, plans are in place (plaice?) to open a new fish and chip shop in a former barbershop.

At 21 High Street, in the middle of a row of restored heritage buildings, plans were submitted last year to add another storey and create three flats above the former Cutthroats barbers.

With Cutthroats moving to nearby Doncaster Gate, a planning application has recently been submitted regarding an extraction system at 21 High Street which explains: "The new proposed use is to be a Chip Shop and as such an extract duct is required to extract heat from the new fryers.

"This proposal will allow the ground floor of the building to be used and will help to bolster the town centre while hopefully bringing more custom to the high street."

The application is from SME Holdings Ltd and Mark McGrail, the businessman that spearheaded the restoration of the nearby George Wright building, creating a boutique hotel in the Grade II listed "hidden gem" of a building.

SME Holdings Ltd is also involved with plans for a new spa and a golf-themed bar complete with a simulator setup.

Rothbiz reported in March on the plans helping to bring Rotherham back to life, including The Bunka and The Bath House on Snail Hill.

At Forge Island, the town centre's new landmark leisure destination, Sygnature Dish, a new steak and seafood restaurant is "set to open in late June 2025."

Opus Pilates website
ROAR website
PokiWorld website
The Bunka website
The Bath House website
Sygnature Dish website

Images: Opus Pilates / Google Maps

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News: New canvases for updated Rotherham Gallery Town

Bramley Sunnyside Junior School Year 6 pupils are contributing to a big art project in Rotherham town centre, thanks to a thought-provoking art exhibition at Wentworth Woodhouse.

The 25 youngsters, who are completing their Art Awards, were invited to the grand Rotherham country house to meet contemporary artist Ian Kirkpatrick and tour his ICONOCLASH exhibition, which is making a bold statement at the mansion until June 29.

Afterwards, they got the opportunity to make their own iconic murals. Elements will feature in a new, bold and graphic artwork Ian is creating for Rotherham town centre later this year, as part of Rotherham’s Children’s Capital of Culture festival year.

Ian’s vibrant ICONOCLASH sculptures, huge paintings and tapestries clash symbols from the past with those from the modern world. Egyptian hieroglyphics and images from Greek mythology feature alongside graffiti, emojis, instantly-recognisable cartoon characters, iconic buildings and logos.

Ian explained the messages and meanings in his work to inspire the youngsters before they headed to the mansion’s Low Drawing Room to get hands-on in a workshop funded by Place Partnerships through Arts Council England.

FLUX Rotherham, the Creative People and Places programme which co-creates community art projects and events across the borough, asked the pupils to create eight giant landscapes depicting their vision for an eco-friendly, futuristic Rotherham.

Their canvases featured iconic Rotherham buildings, landmarks and symbols alongside fantasy figures and elements of nature.

Their creations will become part of the reimagining of Rotherham’s innovative arts project Gallery Town, which will see new artworks on display at some of the town’s best-known buildings and places, including All Saints Square, the Three Cranes pub on High Street and the Civic Theatre.

Gallery Town is currently working with local children and young people to create the artworks and a new consortium led by Flux Rotherham will develop a public art trail.

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At the ICONOCLASH workshop, Isla Nattrass, Emy Graysonand Gracie Cliff created a mural promoting equality and diversity.

Said Isla, 11: “We painted a rainbow tree, a symbol of growing, in the middle of a crossroads, showing the different paths you can take in life. It’s about equality and diversity. Sometimes people aren’t treated nicely, because of the way they look, or because they are a girl, or a boy, or transgender or LGBTQIA+. We think it’s really important for everyone to feel they have a place in the world and that Rotherham is somewhere where people are included.”

Joey Murray, Leo Taylor and Archie Garrett decided to include a neon-yellow version of iconic Rotherham monument Keppel’s Column in their artwork. Said Joey, 10: We want to say that Rotherham is a comfortable and homely place and that it has lots of interesting things to see. I’ve learned a lot today. I didn’t know about Keppel’s column, and now I want to go and visit, and I’ve enjoyed exploring Wentworth Woodhouse and Ian’s art.”

Sofia Traves said: “I have loved seeing ICONOCLASH and the workshop. I love art and getting what is in my imagination down on paper. Our poster says that we are Rotherham and we are proud of it.”

Artist Ian commented: “Working with the students was an amazing experience. Their enthusiasm and curiosity is reflected in the creative, innovative iconography they designed in our workshop. I will be excited to see their work in Rotherham as part of the Gallery Town.”

Head teacher Laura Robson said:” We feel very privileged to be part of this incredible experience. Creativity is very much at the heart of our school and we are very proud of our art curriculum. Learning and working alongside Ian was an unforgettable moment for our artists to inspire their future passions.

“Creating art at the beautiful Wentworth Woodhouse was iconic and added to the extra-special dimension of the ICONOCLASH workshop. We can’t wait to see how their creations are showcased in Rotherham.”

Gallery Town website
Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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News: Rotherham reveals programme highlights for Children’s Capital of Culture 2025

A festival of stories, an open-air art gallery, and a retelling of the Magic Flute to create Rotherham's first opera are highlights of Rotherham’s landmark year as Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025.

The first season of the year-long programme will include large-scale events, workshops, classes and a few surprises along the way. Marking Rotherham’s tenure as the world’s first Capital of Culture, the year kicks off with Otherham Winter Festival, a free, world-class cultural experience in the heart of Rotherham town centre. February will see the return of youth music festival, Signals, while March will culminate in Roots: Rotherham Street Carnival, a parade filled with celebrations across the borough.

At a preview event before Christmas, leaders of the project took to the stage to make a series of announcements for 2025, including a new £1.12m investment from Arts Council England, adding to a £1m investment from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority received earlier this year. There will also be a further commitment to employing and nurturing young creative talent in the borough.

Cllr. David Sheppard, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Neighbourhood Working at Rotherham Council, said: “This is a special moment for Rotherham and its young people. We have collaborated with children and young people from across the borough over the last five years, supporting and championing their talents and creativity and we couldn’t be prouder of the programme of events, festivals, activities, classes and experiences we’ve created together.”

Other festival year highlights announced included collaborations with the Royal Horticultural Society, National Gallery and Royal Ballet & Opera House, as well as Gallery Town, a reimagined outdoor art gallery from Flux Rotherham; House of Fun, a mischievous interruption at Wentworth Woodhouse’s historic mansion; a youth literature festival led by Grimm & Co; a touring film programme with Sheffield DocFest; a pop-up 3-day skate park, roller rink and parkour course; and a borough-wide urban sports celebration, which will include a baton relay across all 130+ schools in Rotherham.



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Grace Bower, 19 from Whiston, is one of the young people steering the festival year. She added: “There’ll be events all year round, designed by young people, like me, for the whole town to enjoy. I’m on the Youth Programming Panel, where young changemakers from across the borough collaborate and ensure our plans speak to the community. We’re buzzing to be shaping the future of Rotherham! 2025 isn’t just about one epic year - it’s about creating something that lasts and showing Rotherham’s young people that this town is full of possibilities. It’s about time we showed the world what Rotherham can do.”

Alongside the events and activities, the year will be supported by an extensive school Creative Learning programme, which will enable every child in the borough to take part. And this month, another six trainee spots are being opened up in the Children’s Capital of Culture employment programme, which gives young people aged 16-25 the chance to work in South Yorkshire’s creative industries, with more job opportunities for young people to be announced across the rest of 2025. Alumni of the traineeship programme have gone on to secure jobs at Netflix and Channel 4.

Rothbiz reported last year that £4.2m is set to be spent on the Children’s Capital of Culture Festival Programme. It is estimated that it will attract external funding in the region of £13.9m.

Rotherham announced its journey to become the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture back in 2022. Since then, it has engaged over 260,000 people in youth-led activities, and employed 112 young people in creative industry traineeships.

Sarah Christie, Programme Manager for Children’s Capital of Culture, said at the event: “Children’s Capital of Culture is a reality because of Rotherham’s visionary children and young people, and a group of partners and funders who got behind their ambition.

“2025 is going to be packed full of colourful, creative events that celebrate Rotherham’s identity through the fresh ideas of our young people - but it’s not just a year-long festival. All our activities have the aim of developing children and young people’s skills, aspirations and future opportunities, improving their mental and physical health, and enabling them to feel prouder than ever of where they’re from – our wonderful borough of Rotherham.”

Rotherham Children’s Capital of Culture website

Images: Rotherham CCoC / James Mulkeen

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News: "Operators signed up" for Forge Island

The empty units at the £47m Forge Island leisure development in Rotherham could soon be filled, according to the latest update from the Council.

Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel as well as food outlets which are yet to open.

Rothbiz revealed in July that operators "have not been able to bring forward" outlets that had originally signed up for the development.

Deals for Casa Peri Peri, Estabulo, Sakku Samba, Caffé Noor, Cow & Cream and The Rustic Pizza Company appear to have fallen through with the authority saying that, working with its development partners, Muse, it was in discussion with a number of other potential operators who have expressed an interest in the site.

At a recent meeting of Rotherham's Town Board, council representatives were asked about the empty units at Forge Island.

The Town Board is a private-sector chaired board established to oversee regeneration progress of various projects backed by government funding. It contains representatives from a wide range of key sectors.

Minutes show that Simon Moss, Assistant Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport at Rotherham Council, "confirmed that a number of operators have signed up and agreed to terms; more information will soon follow."

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Earlier this month Rotherham Council confirmed that it had fully-funded the scheme for the purposes of regeneration of the town centre, not as a commercial venture, adding that it wasn't concerned about the implications of the empty units as the scheme was designed to pay for itself over the life of the development.

In the meantime, space at Forge Island is being utilised by ROAR, a non profit dedicated to supporting creative practices and promoting the arts in Rotherham.

ROAR has established "Senspace" in the empty units where different artworks are being added to, manipulated and moved all the time.

Open for the recent Christmas Lights switch-on, the group describes Senspace as a "growing and changing interactive exhibition looking at the ideas of mindfulness and wellness in a creative capacity."

It is described as offering "a refreshing escape — a sanctuary where art, meditation, and mental health come together to nourish both mind and soul. Each work in the exhibit invites you to immerse yourself in a sensory journey, discovering moments of calm, self-reflection, and grounding.

"At Senspace, art is meant to be felt, breathed, and experienced. With interactive installations that evoke meditative states and ambient soundscapes that soothe, every element is crafted to help reduce stress, build resilience, and deepen personal insight. This isn’t just an art exhibit; it’s an experience designed to reconnect you with yourself through the gentle power of art and mindfulness."

Senspace runs until November 29.

Forge Island website

Images: ROAR

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News: Art group to reimagine Rotherham town centre

A free festival in Rotherham town centre will feature a captivating trail of projection installations. It follows on from last year's popular Museum of The Moon event.

As part of the year-long celebration of the borough becoming the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture, Rotherham will host a free Winter Festival from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th January 2025.

The government-funded programme, Flux Rotherham, which is boosting involvement in creativity and culture in the borough, has announced a unique collaboration with the renowned theatre company, imitating the dog. Chosen by Children’s Capital of Culture’s Youth Programming Panel, they have a key role in helping programme the year-long festival.

The vision is to imagine a place where nothing is quite as it seems; where the imaginations of young people have transformed the town, giving it an otherworldly twist. This is “Otherham,” a magical town where stone walls might open portals to new worlds, where you can order the weather with your coffee, and where kindness is delivered by fluttering butterflies. It’s both familiar and fantastical, a reimagined Rotherham that invites you to see the town through a new lens.

Flux Rotherham Programme Director Helen Jones said: “Last year over 10,000 people visited Rotherham Minster during the Winter Festival to visit The Museum of The Moon, which was amazing. But what people told us was they wanted a wider winter festival with more activity across the town, which is designed especially for Rotherham.

“This festival responds to that wish, and with imitating the dog and Grimm & Co. on board, plus the incredible imaginations of Rotherham’s children and young people, we hope to create a free, world-class cultural experience right in the heart of our town.“

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Simon Wainwright, co-Artistic Director at imitating the dog, added: ”We can’t wait to create Otherham for Rotherham’s Winter Festival. It’s a project we dreamed up after an inspirational visit to the town centre and Grimm & Co’s wonderful storytelling emporium; a visit which truly sparked our imaginations and formed the idea to let the city’s young people dream up a magical, unpredictable and out-of-step world. Who knows what we’ll end up creating but that’s the most exciting part – what stories could these buildings contain?”

Flux Rotherham has also confirmed that it will take over Gallery Town, an ambitious project driven by local businesses in 2012 to create the largest open-air Art Gallery in the UK.

It mainly focussed on sharing reproductions of art on buildings across the town centre by schoolchildren, students, local artists and internationally renowned masters. In more recent years, Gallery Town has created the large-scale Camellia Sculpture in All Saints' Square with support from Arts Council project funding.

Many of the original artworks are now deteriorating and need a refresh to contribute to the overall regeneration and visitor experience in the town centre.

New artworks are proposed for new sites such as Forge Island, along the riverbank development and around/within the new markets area.

A post from Flux Rotherham said: "We’ll focus on the creation of art locally led by professional high-quality artists- this would involve children and young people and adults in the community.

"The artworks would reflect a broader range of artistic output including words, digital and 3 dimensional. Collectively we’d look at Gallery Town as a curated evolving mix of murals, sculpture, wall based and other playful public artworks."

Flux Rotherham website

Images: imitating the dog

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News: £4.2m - the cost of Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture in 2025

£4.2m is set to be spent on the Children’s Capital of Culture Festival Programme in Rotherham in 2025, according to a council report.

It is estimated that it will attract external funding in the region of £13.9m.

Rotherham is branding itself as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025. The move is part of a cultural strategy with an action that is described as highlighting Rotherham as "a place people want to visit, where everyone can enjoy Rotherham through the eyes, ears and actions of children and young people."

Using money from the Government's UK Community Renewal Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, work has been ongoing since 2021 to shape what 2025 might include, as well as building partnerships, employing young trainees, Young Artists in Residence and hosting events and pilot activities.

2025 will include more events and festivals, more community and neighbourhood activity, and continued skills and talent development. The key activities in the 2025 festival year include creative and arts activities, sport and physical activities, heritage, reading and author events, leisure, play, gaming, digital, nature and the environment. It will be designed so there will be something for everyone, whatever their age.

The Children’s Capital of Culture is being led by a Cultural Partnership Board with Rotherham Council acting as a facilitator and accountable body for external funding.

The themes have recently been published:

- You’re Not From New York City, You’re From Rov’rum: supporting young people to have agency and create change, building pride in Rotherham as their home.
- Who We Are, Where We Come From: enabling children and young people to develop a sense of community and belonging through the arts and culture, enhancing their mental health and critical thinking.
- Plug In & Play: increasing opportunities for play in digital and physical spaces, as well as fostering physical activity and participation in sport.
- The World Beneath Our Feet: enabling children and young people to engage with nature and their local environment and take action to combat climate change.

Outcomes for the programme are centred around children and young people being proud to call Rotherham their home, be confident that they can establish a career in Rotherham and feel that their mental and physical health is improving.

For Rotherham residents, being the Children's Capital of Culture is designed to create a stronger sense of community cohesion and connection with the local community and help them feel that Rotherham’s reputation is improving regionally and nationally.

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A report to the council's cabinet explains: "To date, £823,700 from the UK Community Renewal Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Arts Council England has been invested into the Children’s Capital of Culture Skills and Talent Development programme, which supports the education, employment and training of young people from Rotherham.

"Delivery partners such as Grimm and Co, Wentworth Woodhouse and Places Leisure and others are expected to secure £5m towards the cost of delivering the programme. Projects which do not have sufficient funding will not be included in the Festival 2025 programme.

"It is estimated that in the region of £4.2m will be spent on the Festival programme in 2025. This figure excludes core costs such as staffing and is subject to confirmation of external funding sources and finalisation of the programme."

Potential pots of funding include those operated by the Arts Council, National Lottery Heritage Fund and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Cllr. David Sheppard, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion & Neighbourhood Working at Rotherham Council, said: "Children’s Capital of Culture was a title bestowed upon Rotherham by its young people. It was devised by them as a way to change how young people feel about their hometown and create positive opportunities for children and young people across the Borough.

"There are many similar programmes which had been devised by a locality. These include Kirklees Year of Music 2023 and Our Year – Wakefield District 2024. Additionally, the Mayor of London awards a biannual London Borough of Culture event and Greater Manchester awards an annual Town of Culture.

"The Children’s Capital of Culture commitment has already pulled in millions of pounds to offer events and opportunities to young people that they would otherwise not be able to access otherwise.

"I'm really proud that the Council were delivering on the challenge that has been set and I'm looking forward to a great year ahead in 2025."

Michael Rosen, the children’s author, poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter, recently visited the new premises of Rotherham's literacy charity, Grimm & Co. He said that "sparks immediately flew in his mind" when he heard about the Children’s Capital of Culture idea. He said: "Every time there is a ‘City of Culture’ programme I always think “Oh! I hope they do something with children!” …but the whole idea that you have a Children’s Capital of Culture seems to be absolutely magic!

"To make everybody go through 180 degrees and think about culture and how that will work for children instead of what shall we do for children at one side of what we’re doing over here with opera, and plays and music… it will turn people right round the other way and make them think “well I do this, but how could I do that for children?”

"I think it’s fantastic – an absolutely wonderful idea!”

Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture website

Images: Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture / Facebook

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse recognised for its excellent Tripadvisor reviews

Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham continues to be a hit with visitors and has been awarded the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024, the third year in a row for the stately home.

Wentworth Woodhouse is owned and operated by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) which is overseeing a regeneration project which has a focus on delivering high quality, creative and relevant visitor experiences.

Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, calculates restaurants, destinations, hotels and tourist attractions based on the quality and quantity of online reviews over a 12-month period.

Travellers’ Choice recognises businesses that earn consistently great reviews. Travellers’ Choice award-winners are amongst the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, and honour select accommodation, attractions and restaurants that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence.

On the site, Wentworth Woodhouse has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 with 80% of reviewers rating the hidden gem as "excellent." It is ranked third in South Yorkshire behind the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster and the Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife Conservation Park, which is also in Rotherham.

A spokesperson from WWPT said: "Thank you to everyone, both old visitors and new, who have visited over the past year and shared their experiences, ratings and reviews on the platform – we couldn’t have done it without you! Also, an enormous thank you goes to our wonderful family of staff and volunteers who give so much time and energy to create a welcoming environment and positive experience for our visitors.

"This recognition helps us to continue our regeneration and puts Wentworth Woodhouse firmly on the map as a visitor destination for all to enjoy."

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Upcoming events at "the big house" include what the Trust descibes as its "most ambitious exhibition to date."

Beneath the Surface: George Stubbs & Contemporary Artists will run for three months and brings seven remarkable works by George Stubbs to the Rotherham stately home to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the artist’s birth - and his residency there in 1762.

It is now known Stubbs created seven artworks at Wentworth Woodhouse for the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham over many months in 1762. Four of these 1762 paintings are "coming home" on loan from a private collection.

The exhibition, sited in the mansion’s State Rooms and free to view with a house admission ticket from July 30 to November 3.

Other events this summer include the return of outdoor music, theatre and cinema, The Great British Food Festival, WE Wonder and workshops and summer camps.

Also on display is the exhibition of Wentworth’s Coal Story, which launched last week and runs until October 6, explaining how the fossil fuel industry affected the mansion’s rise and fall.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse hosts Grayson Perry exhibition

The Vanity of Small Differences, an exhibition by one of the UK's best-known artists, Turner-Prize winning Grayson Perry, is opening today at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham.

The series of six large and exuberant tapestries inspired by 18th century painter William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress, runs until September 3 - and hopes are it will inspire local people to take up needle and thread.

Grayson created the tapestries after his 2012 Channel 4 TV series All in the Best Possible Taste with Grayson Perry, which journeyed through Sunderland, Tunbridge Wells and The Cotswolds to explore the British fascination with class and what is - or isn’t - deemed good taste.

The artist wove the characters, incidents and objects encountered along the way into his tapestries, which are now in the Arts Council Collection.

These tapestries will hang in four of the mansion’s State Rooms and it’s hoped they will inspire people to make their own textile art.

Wentworth Woodhouse - A Summer of Creative Textile Workshops - will be running during the exhibition to give visitors the chance to learn new skills from seven talented Yorkshire artists.

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Featuring techniques from shish mirror embroidery to weaving and rag rugging, the workshops are supported by Flux Rotherham, an Arts Council England Creative People and Places programme.

The workshops follow on from The Threads that Connect Us, Flux Rotherham’s creative project which saw 170 local people - from beginners to experienced embroiderers - stitch, quilt and applique textile artworks.

Their creations were included in Threads of Survival, a national creative textiles project to share memories of the pandemic.

Said Flux director Helen Jones: “Our project proved there’s now a strong interest in learning traditional crafting skills again. Many people turned to them in the pandemic and found them therapeutic and it’s lovely to see this continuing.

“Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust shares our ethos of community, diversity and inclusion and the Grayson Perry exhibition was the perfect opportunity to come together.”

The Trust is regenerating Rotherham’s Grade I listed mansion and providing community and educational projects, activities and experiences, particularly for people with disabilities, the socially and economically disadvantaged and culturally diverse groups.

“We are delighted to present Grayson Perry’s epic series of tapestries at Wentworth Woodhouse,” said Sarah McLeod, WWPT CEO. “For centuries, tapestries have been an art form on which creators recorded historic events and expressed their opinions. I am sure Grayson's modern interpretations will fascinate our visitors and inspire them to learn new skills at the crafting sessions we are staging with Flux Rotherham.”

Wentworth Woodhouse website
Flux Rotherham website

Images: Arts Council Collection / YouTube

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News: What's happening with The Steel Man sculpture?

A new challenge has begun for the "Man of Steel" - the proposed landmark sculpture in Rotherham, overlooking Sheffield's Lower Don Valley.

More than a decade ago, designs for a 32 metre stainless steel sculpture were created that was set to stand on a former landfill site overlooking the M1 between Rotherham and Sheffield. Plans were originally approved conditionally in 2012 for the art installation based on work by local sculptor Steve Mehdi.

With slow progress being made since plans were resubmitted in 2015 alongside proposals for an Interpretation Hub forming part of the project in 2017, an update shows that work is still being carried out with a new 4.5 metre replica model of the sculpture now under construction.

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The update reads: "We are delighted to announce the beginning of a new era as we push forward with our plans to bring the Steel Man to life. Last year we began working with an international collaboration of design engineers to develop the fabrication design of the Steel Man. We then reached out to Outokumpu, one of our biggest sponsors, to supply all the stainless steel required to build a new 4.5 metre model of the sculpture. This is now being built by another of our sponsors, NEC Ltd in Bradwell, Derbyshire. The build will take 3-4 months and we can’t wait to let you know when its ready!"

A not-for-profit charitable company, Yorkshire Icon Limited, has been pioneering the plans. It has reviously said that £4.2m is required to deliver the new landmark for Yorkshire, with a number of high profile companies backing the programme with materials, expertise and financial contributions.

A previous update said: "Funding an ambitious project of this scale has always been a huge challenge, and the impact of Brexit and COVID 19, along with other local economic challenges, has disrupted our plans and delayed progress. The team has worked hard to push through these challenges, and they recognise many hurdles still remain. Traditional funding routes under the current climate remain beyond our grasp. So, to harness the support we already have, we are preparing a global crowd funding campaign starting this Year. More about it will be announced in the coming months."

Originally conceived as a scaled up stainless cast version of Mehdi's sculpture, the Man of Steel has been radically redesigned, and will be fabricated from precision engineered stainless steel panels supplied from Outokumpu Stainless Distribution (UK), from Sheffield.

In addition, a 20 metre observation tower, supporting the 20 metre stainless steel sculpture is set to include a viewing deck, which will provide "elevated panoramic views across the region and interpretive technology which will focus on the heritage of steel and coal, as well as promoting the new technology sector helping to transform the region's future."

When plans were submitted, The Heritage Lottery Fund were committed to financially supporting the building of a £1m Interpretation Hub. Plans showed that the building would be sited to the west of the existing vehicular access onto Meadowbank Road at the bottom of the hill, with The Steel Man sculpture at the top of the hill. Plans showed areas for exhibitions, learning and activities associated with sculpture along with a canteen, staff room, shop and outdoor play space.

A full scale replica heart was gifted to the town and is on display in Rotherham town centre. A similar sculpture was reproduced to help raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. With space to engrave 150,000 names, the Heart of Steel at Meadowhall shopping centre is eventually due to be included inside the 32-metre Steel Man.

The Steel Man website

Images: Yorkshire Icon Ltd: / NEC Ltd / Axis Architecture

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News: Rotherham entrepreneurs secure grant for production company

Two Rotherham entrepreneurs have turned their passion for producing, writing and acting into a successful celebrity backed production company – with passion project ‘Simply Ken’ already being pitched to top TV channels.

Gratso Productions was founded by Craig Shepherd, a Rotherham College drama teacher and local actor who has featured in When Saturday Comes amongst other titles, alongside his childhood friend, Robert Sadler.

Launched in 2023, Gratso Productions secured a kickstart grant from UKSE to allow for the editing and pitching of the pilot episode of its first production, ‘Simply Ken’ a modern sitcom about successful businessman Ken Codd who suddenly loses his job, house and wife all on the same day, to programme directors at some of the country’s leading broadcasters.

The duo have also received invaluable support from Acting legends Hi-de-Hi’s Jeffrey Holland and General Hospital’s Judy Buxton, who both star in Simply Ken.

Moving forward, the company already has plans for the production of a one-man touring play, Laurel & Hardy inspired ’The Fiddle and The Bow’.

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Speaking on the successful start to the business, Robert said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support and advice we have received right out the gate for Gratso Productions.

“Our main goal is to cultivate local talent out of South Yorkshire, with Craig also teaching drama at Rotherham College, we have been able to offer some amazing experience for the students.

“We are incredibly grateful for the grant from UKSE which has allowed us to speed along the process of our very first production.”

Steve Lyon, Area Manager at UKSE - a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1.5m to growing companies, but which also provides support to start-ups – said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting such an exciting business within the South Yorkshire region, Robert and Craig’s passion for bringing the arts back to the region is truly exciting.

“We wish them all the best moving forward and can’t wait to see Gratso Productions make it to the big screen.”

UKSE website

Images: UKSE

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News: A further £275,000 for Rotherham as Children's Capital of Culture

Rotherham Council's cabinet has agreed a further £275,000 for Rotherham as Children's Capital of Culture as the next phase is set out by some of the borough's young people.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 that a bid to the Government's Community Renewal Fund was successful based around the Children's Capital of Culture idea.

Rotherham is planning to brand itself as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025. The move is part of a cultural strategy with an action that is described as highlighting Rotherham as "a place people want to visit, where everyone can enjoy Rotherham through the eyes, ears and actions of children and young people."

£1.84m was offered from the Community Renewal Fund to help establish a "Creative & Cultural Skills Embassy" linked to the Children's Capital of Culture idea. It added to funding already secured from Arts Council England.

Now Rotherham Council has approved the use of £275,000 from its allocation of the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund to be used on the next phase of the project in 2023.

A cabinet paper explains that the money "will take forward the next phase of Children’s Capital of Culture (CCoC), with the CCoC team partnering with three cultural providers and working with young people to deliver a programme of creative and cultural events, festivals, experiences and opportunities across Rotherham."

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Over 150 guests recently gathered at Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham to hear young people from Rotherham set out the roadmap to 2025 and a manifesto to ensure a lasting legacy for the borough.

Local artists including hip hop and breakdance act Rationale Arts, rapper Kid Blu3e, theatre students, skaters and BMXers took over the popular children’s theme park with impressive performances on the night.

Rotherham resident Christopher Badger, 25, who was one of the Children’s Capital of Culture trainees in 2022, explains: “The turnout was beyond our expectations and the reaction from everyone was overwhelmingly positive. We celebrated everything that’s happened so far and the amazing impact it’s had on people like me, and looked ahead to what’s next. We’ve made so much progress since launching the journey, and now we need everyone to get behind it and really make 2025 an epic year for Rotherham.”

The Children’s Capital of Culture team announced the commission of two new Young Artists in Residence, who will work with them for six months this year. Four local young people will also have a golden opportunity to work alongside Rotherham Music to deliver partnership projects with Children’s Capital of Culture, including a genre-busting programme of music events during February half-term. And a partnership has been agreed with Flux Rotherham and Wentworth Woodhouse to offer paid traineeships to fifteen local young people, which will equip them with life-changing skills and experience.

In addition, after the huge success of the Children’s Capital of Culture launch programme in 2022, it was revealed that sell-out cultural events will return to Rotherham in 2023. This includes UPLIFT: Rotherham Skate and Arts Festival, which will take place from 5–7 April, with a town takeover of skate and BMX demos, pop-up skate parks, a roller disco, bands, DJs, food stalls, a young makers’ market, creative workshops, and more. WoW Rotherham will also return on 9-10 June, with an accompanying WoWsers programme that will support Rotherham’s young people to plan and create their own events and activities at the festival.

Children’s Capital of Culture Programme Manager, Sarah Christie, said: “The ultimate goal of Children’s Capital of Culture is to support more children and young people across the borough to create a bolder, more ambitious and creative future for themselves, increasing overall pride and aspiration in our borough and nurturing a skilled young workforce that can make a real difference to Rotherham’s future.

“Last year’s launch programme was a huge success. As we move into the next phase in 2023, we are building it further, introducing more skills programmes for more young people, and working with more communities to come up with cultural event ideas that celebrate the talent and diversity of Rotherham.

“It was great to see so many local businesses, organisations, individuals and schools in the region show up for Rotherham, and pledge their support for our young people.”

South Yorkshire was allocated £38.9m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022. Managed by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), notional allocations for the four South Yorkshire local authority districts saw £7.08m for Rotherham.

Rotherham Council has set out that the rest of the £859,647 for the first year will be used to continue existing schemes including its repsonse to the cost of living crisis, and business support provided through the Council’s business centres and advisors in RiDO.

The £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds the old EU structural funds and aims to invest in three local priorities; communities and place, support for local businesses and people and skills.

Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture facebook page

Images: Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture / twitter

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News: Plans approved for new artwork in Rotherham town centre

Planners at Rotherham Council have approved plans for an eight metre high sculpture in Rotherham town centre but admit that it "may not be to everyone’s taste."

Camellia is a ground-breaking new artwork developed by internationally acclaimed sculptor James Capper. Commissioned by Gallery Town and jointly funded by Arts Council England and local businesses, Camellia is a moving sculpture which will feature petals that react to the movement of light.

The work was inspired by the camellia flowers brought to Wentworth Woodhouse in the eighteenth century, some of the oldest varieties known to exist in the UK.

Permission has been secured for the pedestrianised area of the town centre on College Street immediately adjacent to All Saint’s Square. Temporary permission is granted for three years and it is intended to site the sculpture permanently on the nearby Forge Island leisure development which is currently under construction.

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A planner's report approving the application, reads: "It is considered that the sculpture raises no issues with regards to the amenity of neighbouring occupiers or highway safety, the only material planning consideration would be visual impact.

"The location is highly sensitive in conservation terms being immediately adjacent to the Grade I Listed Rotherham Minster. However, the sculpture will clearly be read as a piece of public art and would be sited in this location on a temporary basis.

"The appearance of the artwork is subjective and may not be to every one’s taste. However, it is not a building, or a permanent structure and it is considered that it is acceptable in design terms to be sited in this location on a temporary basis. It is therefore considered that the sculpture would not harm the setting of the Grade I Listed Rotherham Minster or the Town Centre Conservation Area and would help to add visual interest to this part of the town centre."

Launched in 2011, Gallery Town’s mission is to rejuvenate and celebrate Rotherham’s cultural history by using art to encourage, inspire and offer opportunities to explore our local community. Since its inception, the project has successfully displayed more than 100 works of art, which can be found in more than 60 locations across Rotherham’s town centre.

Gallery Town website

Images: Gallery Town

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News: Riverside park plans replace proposed residential block

Muse, Rotherham Council's development partner on the Forge Island regeneration scheme in the town centre, is not going ahead with a future part of the scheme.

A prominent site, long ear-marked for residential use, is instead set to become a riverside park.

Plans have now been submitted to create Riverside Gardens on an area extending from the recently demolished Riverside Precinct, covering the old abattoir site behind Market Street, most recently used as a riverside car park now considered to be surplus to requirements, and passing the Old Market, Keppel Wharf and Westgate Chambers residential developments.

With the pedestrianisation of part of Market Street and Domine Lane, the aim is to form an entrance leading to Riverside Gardens and Forge Island from the town centre.

When Muse secured planning permission for the cinema, hotel and food & drink units on Forge Island it used a hybrid planning application, outlining plans for later phases - 50 riverside residential units on land known as the abattoir site and 70 residential units on the site of the former courts buildings.

The latest planning application confirms: "[The application] incorporated Riverside Car Park within a wider scheme which include Forge Island and The Statutes to the west. The scheme sought to deliver two residential blocks on Riverside Car Park Site, however Muse Developments have confirmed that this residential element will not be delivered.

"Conversations between the Council and Muse Developments have confirmed that the residential element of the Forge Island scheme will not come forward, thereby leaving the site vacant and underused. This has created a risk that the Riverside Car Park element will not be redeveloped and could potentially be an undeveloped void in between Rotherham Town Centre and Forge Island.

"It is this which has led RiDO to pursue the proposed development to ensure a key area is not overlooked in the regeneration efforts of Rotherham Town Centre."

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Following a period of consultation, a new proposal has been drawn up by the council's contractors, Tetra Tech (formerly WYG), for new public realm including a landscaping scheme and the pedestrianisation of Market Street and Domine Lane. It is not considered that the site could accommodate retail development.

Aspects include a play area with a slide, climbing slope, timber logs and other natural play-based elements, soft landscaping to form a stepped profile which can be used for natural play, a plaza to accommodate outdoor seating and a new public artwork. The final design details of this artwork are being determined, however it is set to be a large sized interactive and educational sculptural piece which spells "Rotherham."

Domine Lane and Market Street will be permanently closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrianised. Another piece of artwork, in the form of a pair of corten steel arches, is proposed to be included along Domine Lane.

The application adds that the proposals will "create a unique space within the town centre which will attract users from within the Borough and encourage additional dwell time through providing a space for recreation and social activities. Additionally, the art piece is intended to be a bold statement which signifies, strengthens and promotes Rotherham’s identity, and may act as a draw within its own right."

The plans also hint at further development proposals around the reuse of former bank buildings on Corporation Street, "however the designs for this are not available at this stage."

Images: RiDO / Tetra Tech

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News: Dramatic contemporary sculpture aims to help Rotherham town centre bloom

An eight metre high sculpture is set to be unveiled later this year in Rotherham town centre, the work paying homage to Rotherham’s rich industrial heritage as well as exploring our relationship with nature and our impact on the environment.

Camellia is a ground-breaking new artwork developed by internationally acclaimed sculptor James Capper. Commissioned by Gallery Town and jointly funded by Arts Council England and local businesses, Camellia is a moving sculpture which will stand at eight metres tall and features petals that react to the movement of light.

The project for the Gallery Town initiative was inspired by the camellia flowers brought to Wentworth Woodhouse in the eighteenth century, some of the oldest varieties known to exist in the UK.

Camellia has been fabricated by apprentices working at Brinsworth-based MTL Advanced Ltd, who have spent more than three months working with James Capper to breathe life into his unique concept.

Throughout the summer, James is inviting children and young people to explore their gardens, local parks and woodland and draw a silhouette or outline shape which has been inspired by the natural world. The designs could be made up of petals, flowers, leaves, trees or even a house plant, with some of the best designs being incorporated into the finished sculpture.

Camellia is the culmination of more than four years’ careful work by Gallery Town to bring a site-specific and thought-provoking contemporary sculpture to Rotherham. An accompanying exhibition is set to take place later in the year at Clifton Park Museum.



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James Capper, sculptor said: "My work has often been inspired by nature and explores the relationship between engineering and the natural world in sculptural forms. When I was approached by Gallery Town to produce a unique work for Rotherham, I was fascinated by many of the important contributions the town has made towards shaping the modern world, from the Rotherham plough, which helped to spark the industrial revolution, to the cutting-edge search and development that continues within the borough today.

"I wanted to draw on the town’s rich cultural and industrial heritage and beautiful green spaces to create a sculpture that I hope people visiting, living or working in the town will feel proud."

Nick Cragg, Chairman, Gallery Town, said: “Camellia is, without a doubt, Gallery Town’s most ambitious project to date. We wanted to create a work that would inspire, enthuse and even challenge our perceptions of the world around us, and James’ work certainly fulfils this challenging brief.

An important part of Gallery Town’s work over the past decade has been to give people living and working in Rotherham the chance to become a part of the Gallery Town experience. During that time, we’ve showcased the work of our youngsters, communities and up-and-coming local artists throughout the town. Camellia offers a chance for our young people to make their mark on a truly unique piece of sculpture, which we hope will be enjoyed by people living, working and visiting our town centre for many years to come.

Art can play a vital role in regeneration, and over the past three years our board has been working closely with Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Arts Council and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. It marks the beginning of an exciting new phase of the Gallery Town project and one that not only brings the work of an internationally renowned sculptor to South Yorkshire, but will also help to reinvent the way we think about our town centre.”

The closing date for entries is Friday 23rd September. More details about how to submit entries can be found on the Gallery Town website.

Launched in 2011, Gallery Town’s mission is to rejuvenate and celebrate Rotherham’s cultural history by using art to encourage, inspire and offer opportunities to explore our local community. Since its inception, the project has successfully displayed more than 100 works of art, which can be found in more than 60 locations across Rotherham’s town centre.

Gallery Town website

Images: Lontra

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News: MetLase supports stainless steel sculpture artist

MetLase, a collaboration between Unipart and Rolls-Royce, is among the UK’s most cutting-edge technology manufacturers supporting sculptor Jacob Chandler with his commission for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, MetLase is one of the UK's leading specialists in tooling, intelligent fixturing and components.

One Giant Leap for Humankind is a two and a half meter tall Stainless Steel sculpture of a para-athlete that has been installed in Birmingham New Street station in celebration of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, the cultural programme for the international sporting event.

MetLase provided precision laser cutting of material for the sculpture. Through years of continuous improvement, MetLase has mastered laser cutting to such an extent it allows the maximum known precision from the technology. Many different metals can be laser cut, and the parameters of the laser cutter are carefully adjusted according to the design.

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Richard Gould, MetLase Sales and Business Development Manager, said: “We love the industrial automotive style of his pieces. It reflects our parent company’s markets and our own involvement in high-tech, mechanical engineering. We are proud to be associated with a piece that has such an important message.”

Jacob Chandler, added: "I've been able to work with some of the most amazing people and companies to make this project a reality. The support from all was really heartwarming. The world's changed significantly since this project got underway but the project was filled with so much passion from all parties that it really helped me get through dark times and realise that people on the whole are incredible."

The sculpture is linked to the Commonwealth with a toposcope denoting the direction and distance to each Commonwealth country. A QR code and webpage allows interaction with augmented reality artifacts.

MetLase website

Images: Jacob Chandler /

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News: Over 50 life-changing traineeships for Rotherham's Children's Capital of Culture launch programme

Under 25s in Rotherham are being given a unique opportunity to develop their skills and make their mark in the creative and cultural industries in South Yorkshire, thanks to a dedicated Children’s Capital of Culture upskilling programme.

The six-month-long paid traineeships are enabling 55 young people interested in a creative career path to gain experience at some of Rotherham’s most progressive cultural organisations, including Magna, Wentworth Woodhouse, Gulliver’s Valley Resort, Grimm & Co, Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR), Rotherham United Community Sports Trust (RUCST) and Rotherham Council’s Events Team.

All 55 trainees have been tasked with producing a series of creative summer events that will engage young people in Rotherham and give them a taster of what becoming Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025 will be like. Some of the town’s most experienced creative mentors are working with them to help turn their creative visions into reality, and as well as on-the-job support and mentoring, each trainee has also received a personalised training plan from South Yorkshire training provider, The Source Academy.

Leanne Buchan, Acting Assistant Director for Culture, Sport & Tourism at Rotherham Council, said: “A key part of the Children’s Capital of Culture programme is about giving our young people life-changing skills development and training in the creative and cultural sectors, and these traineeships are doing just that.

“When we advertised the trainee roles, we were blown away by the response and hundreds of young people between 16-25 applied. We appointed the 55 trainees based on their unique visons and aspirations rather than their prior experience, and they have all been placed at the organisations where we feel they will shine brightest and get the most out of their traineeships.

“The feedback we have received from the trainees so far has been fantastic, and they are all really excited to be gaining work experience in areas that interest them and being part of a programme that will genuinely transform Rotherham.”

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The 55 trainees are aged 16-25 and 12 of them are care experienced. They come from a range of backgrounds, with some having no prior experience, while others have been through college or university.

Mitchell Nuttall, 25, is a young actor who is completing his traineeship at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. He said: “I struggled in school as I have a disability, and I didn’t do very well. After leaving I went to college to do performance arts before doing a degree in the same subject. I love acting, but decided it was time to do something different. However, my disabilities make certain things quite difficult, like a lot of 9-5 jobs, and that made finding something pretty hard.

“I was over the moon when I got this role. Everybody has been so supportive, and it’s really helped me to perform in the job, which is a huge achievement for me. It’s made me realise that with the right team around me, I can do well in a working environment and achieve great things.”

Mya Fuller, 17, has loved being on the stage since being a child and is doing her traineeship at South Yorkshire training provider, The Source Academy. She said: “My traineeship is letting me explore my interest in the arts and working at The Source has given me the confidence that anything is possible.

“I can’t wait for Rotherham to be Children’s Capital of Culture. It will be nice for my hometown to be in the spotlight, and it will bring a lot more opportunities to people who live here.”

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Aliya Ahmed, 19, is doing her training at Magna, alongside studying for a photography degree. She said: “A lot of families are against their children going into the creative sector, as they don’t think it’s a proper career path. I want to help change these views, and at Magna I’m working on the production of a careers event for kids that will showcase all the brilliant job opportunities in the creative industries.

“I’m developing so many new skills and getting to meet a lot of new people. I usually only get to work with other people on my photography course, but now I’m getting to work with people who have experience in different areas and I’m learning so much.”

The training programme has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Rotherham Children's Capital of Culture website

Images: Children's Capital of Culture

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News: Funding boost for Rotherham as Children's Capital of Culture

A further £2.4m has been secured from the Government for levelling up projects in Rotherham.

Around 500 locally led projects are set to benefit from Community Renewal Fund which focuses on supporting people and places across the UK, focused on domestic priorities, growing local economies, and breathing new life into communities.

In Rotherham, a bid has been successful based around the Children's Capital of Culture.

Rotherham is planning to brand itself as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025. The move is part of a new cultural strategy with an action that is described as highlighting Rotherham as "a place people want to visit, where everyone can enjoy Rotherham through the eyes, ears and actions of children and young people."

This aim is supported by the imaginative children’s literature charity, Grimm & Co, a new £2m Creative People and Places programme, Flux, plans to create a new Central Library at the heart of its Future High Street programme and a strong local authority team. The recently-formed Cultural Partnership Board, with members including Rotherham United, the Grade 1 Wentworth Woodhouse stately home, Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR) Magna Science Museum and growing sector of freelance practitioners including international sound artist and music producer Mark Fell, visual artist Leigh de Vries, and community and visual artist Vicky Hilton will drive this ambition with local people.

£1.84m has been offered from the Community Renewal Fund to help establish a "Creative & Cultural Skills Embassy" linked to the Children's Capital of Culture idea. It adds to funding already secured from Arts Council England.

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In the run-up to 2025, there is expected to be lots of great opportunities for local children and young people, including skills development programmes and job opportunities, creative workshops and events.

The latest project will see the appointment of three young producers tasked with creating amazing experiences for the people of Rotherham, including putting on events and designing exhibitions.

Another bid to the Community Renewal Fund has also been successful. Led by Voluntary Action Rotherham (VAR), voluntary and community sector groups have been offered £607,845 for a project called "Anything's Possible, Rotherham!"

Engaging with people who are furthest from the job market, the funding will enable them to create a menu of possibilities to increase and improve employability, life chances and positive pathways.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said: "We are levelling up in every corner of the United Kingdom, backing locally-led projects that will make a real difference to communities and help to deliver our net zero commitments.

"There is incredible talent spread right across our great country and this investment will unlock the opportunities to match."

The Community Renewal Fund is a precursor for the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Government's replacement for EU structural funds.

Children's Capital of Culture website
VAR website

Images: RMBC / Grimm & Co

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News: Culture, arts and heritage can help recovery from Covid-19 in South Yorkshire

A report into the value of culture, arts and heritage in South Yorkshire has concluded the sector has an important role to play in the recovery from Covid-19.

"Unlocking the potential of culture, arts and heritage in South Yorkshire" concludes that the sector can respond quickly, bring communities together, support education and boost mental wellbeing; all factors that could help over the next few months.

And in "normal times" the research, which was commissioned by the four South Yorkshire councils before the lockdown, says culture, arts and heritage bring a wide range of social and economic benefits; contributing £200m to the local economy, supporting 6,500 jobs and wider benefits including tourism, creative industries, health, education, community and individual wellbeing. These contribute at least a further £170m to the local economy and £1.2bn in individual wellbeing.

The report was supported by the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority and managed by Great Place Wentworth & Elsecar, a cultural programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.

Rachel Blake, programme manager at Great Place Wentworth & Elsecar, said: "We have a strong heritage and cultural offer with enormous potential to deliver economic and social benefits, which is even more important in a post-Covid world.

"This report gives us some very useful pointers in how to unlock that potential for the benefit of everyone in the region."

The research was carried out by ChamberlainWalker Economics, which has worked on several high-profile projects, including the Piece Hall in Halifax which brings millions into Calderdale's economy each year.

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The researchers found that public funding for the sector in South Yorkshire was significantly lower than the national average. Having a more co-ordinated approach to bidding for national grants and even just increasing those to the national average would bring another £9.5m to the region each year.

The recommendations of the report also include drafting a city region-wide strategy for culture, arts and heritage; appointing an arts and culture lead, and investing in nature and landscapes, museums, theatre and historic buildings and monuments, as these would offer the best economic returns.

Rotherham drafted its own cultural strategy last year.

Dan Jarvis, Sheffield City Region Mayor, said: "Our region is home to nationally-significant cultural assets, including galleries, museums, music venues and a host of tourist attractions and festivals. I have long believed that the sectors these represent are not just vital for our economy but for our character and our spirit as a region and as a nation.

"These sectors are not a luxury; they are a vital part of the region’s recovery and renewal, contributing to healthy and sustainable communities, strong local identities, and vibrant places, as well as to our economic recovery. There is a real opportunity now to level up the North, to invest in our communities and to build a stronger, greener and fairer South Yorkshire – and culture, arts and heritage must be central to that."

Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said he welcomed the report. He said: "Many of us in business recognise the relevance of the arts to business and the wider economy. As well as creating jobs, a thriving cultural sector helps retain and attract people to an area and helps to develop that "feel good factor" we all need. It will prove to be a key part of the region's economy as South Yorkshire recovers from the effects of the lockdown."

Images: WE Great Place

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse provides unique setting for awe-inspiring art project

We all know that Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham is big, but big enough to host the whole planet?

This month the Grade I listed mansion will host "Gaia" - a touring artwork by celebrated UK artist Luke Jerram who brought his "Museum of the Moon" to audiences of four million around the world since 2017.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Gaia features extraordinarily detailed NASA imagery of the Earth's surface. The installation will be located in the Marble Saloon at Wentworth Woodhouse, giving visitors the opportunity to explore this stunning artwork in a unique surrounding.

A specially made surround sound composition by BAFTA award-winning composer Dan Jones will be played alongside the sculpture which aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet.

Free tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.

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The artwork is 1.8 million times smaller than the real Earth with each centimetre of the internally lit sculpture describing 18km of the Earth's surface. By standing 211m away from the artwork, the public will be able to see the Earth as it appears from the moon.

Described as a "a 60ft square work of art" and once dubbed the finest Georgian room in England, the Marble Saloon was the entrance for royalty and has hosted some of the house's most extravagant balls.

The room, which saw ballerina, Anna Pavlova, dance for for King George V, has a 40ft high unbroken pillared gallery surround and the ceiling plasterwork is by Jonathan and Joseph Rose which is further reflected in the design of the marble floor.

The unique installation leads up to WE Wonder Noir Festival which sees WE Great Place in partnership with Wentworth Woodhouse presenting one of the best outdoor arts shows of the past few years, As the World Tipped, to Rotherham. These events will be building on the success of the Man Engine shows in 2018 and the summer WE Wonder Festival creating an unmissable spectacular. Street food/drink and outstanding performances will build up the atmosphere to the perfect autumn event.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: Luke Jerram

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