Projects
At ArtWorks, we are always working on lots of exciting long term projects. These are an opportunity for our artists to progressively develop targeted skills, often working with local communities or developing complex work over a longer period of time. The projects help us to reach our aims of supporting our artists to play an active and positive role within their community, and ensure that their creative talents and unique ideas are shared beyond our organisation. Below are some of the projects our artists have been involved in.
In 2022 our artists have had the opportunity to curate a programme of 4 exhibitions in the Pillared Hall at Wentworth Woodhouse. They came up with themes for the exhibitions, selected artists through an artist call out and worked with the artists to produce and promote the exhibitions. The aim of this project was to provide our artists with the professional skills of working 'behind-the-scenes' in exhibition and programme production.
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Click on 'Curation Project' to find out more.
In April 2022 we ran our first Sustainability Month with the aim or raising awareness of climate change and looking at how we can change the daily activities in our studios to reduce our carbon footprint. The project continues as we try to make long term changes in our practice, as well as through the exhibitions and event ideas which have been inspired by the project.
Click on 'eARThWorks' to find out more.
This is a project led by artist Johnsey which has been running at ArtWorks since 2019. At its core, the project involves the act of drawing in response to music, but over the years it has taken many forms including collaboration over Zoom and experimentation with 3-dimensional drawing surfaces.
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The project is regularly taken to the public through collaborative workshops and artwork created through the project has been exhibited on many occasions, including during our exhibition at Wakefield Cathedral in March 2023.
At Thrybergh Country Park, our artist were involved in the 'Hope Fields' project, a living memorial, to honour both the victims of COVID-19 and those who fought the virus. The ArtWorks artists were commissioned to create a beautiful new bird hide and activity boards. Our artists created the design for the new bird hide, drew birds for the bird spotting board and created activities for everyone to get involved with while visiting the park.
A small group of our artists, known as The Bradgate Band, have written, recorded, and composed their own album titled Livin' La Vida Lockdown. The musicians think about the process of re-evaluating ourselves and our basic daily life, which has been a result of the lockdown experience. The album cover features artwork created by artists at Steps Residential Care with support from Christopher Johns.
The Bradgate Band CD is available to purchase from our Shop.
We are delighted to be involved, alongside 20 other arts charities , in the creation of the 3rd edition of 'Secret Dishes From Around The World' recipe book, a project created by Bounceback Food. For this book, one of our talented artists, Josh, will be producing an original piece of art to go alongside a recipe!
In collaboration with The Button Tin, we ran a "Pop Up" Sewing Room in Rotherham Market. Stitching Hope Together. A little creative disruption goes a long way! We inspired and uplifted the local market traders around us and all who passed by, injecting much need life in empty spaces...with Art.
We have been funded by the Big Lottery Fund to run projects supporting our artists to gain crucial life skills, supporting them to become more independent and healthy. As part of the project, we will be running coffee and cake sessions to isolated groups within the community.
We are excited to be working in partnership with Site Gallery on their funding project 'City of Ideas'
’The project will create new and accessible public art commissions animating existing
spaces in the city centre. Our artists will focus on the accessibility of the new spaces.
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Our artists and Special Olympic athletes were asked to create artwork to celebrate the promotion of Sheffield United in 2017. Football fans Chris and Jack's hand painted the artwork before using photoshop to transform into a banner. This was presented to manager Chris Wilder and is on display in the ground.
We were delighted to be selected as one of the Lord Mayor of Sheffield's chosen charities for 2016/17. This has given us some fantastic opportunities working alongside; Sheffield Kidney Institute, Sheffield Young Carers, Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind and Sheffield Dementia Action Alliance.
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Greggs Foundation
ArtWorks were awarded an environmental grant from the Greggs Foundation to help improve the local environment. Enabling us to run a number of projects including maintaining elderly people's gardens, volunteering at the local woodlands and making bird boxes for our community.
School Projects
We have completed several creative projects working in both SEN and mainstream schools. These include running art and drama session for World Book Day at Seven Hill School and Hill Top School and creating a large installation exploring plastic in the ocean at Nethergreen Primary School.
Art in the Community
ArtWorks are working with Rotherham Market to provide monthly art workshops. Each month our artists run a different workshop within the indoor market passing on their skills to the local community. Please keep an eye out on our social media feeds to find out about our upcoming events.
Wayward is a London-based landscape, art and architecture practice an award-winning collective of designers, artists and urban growers. Our artists have been busy working with Wayward to help develop the Pinball Park as part of our work with Site Gallery and the development of the cultural quarter.
Society of Explorers
We have been working with Site Gallery as part of their young people's project 'society of explorers'. Our artists went down to 'Site Gallery Introducing at The Folk Forest' as part of Tramlines weekend to document the festival including interviewing the performing artists. Watch this space to see how we got on.
'The Art of Banners' led by local textile artist Gemma Nemer (The Button Tin). Themed around solidarity and resilience we will create a unique hand stitched piece inspired by the Craftivist Movement and a tribute to this year's Vote 100 Suffrage celebrations.
Silent Auction
We ran a silent auction to raise funds for the Lord mayor's charities. Over 20 local artists donated work for the auction which included art from our very own artists. The pop-up exhibition was displayed at Virgin Money Lounge and raised over £1400.
Special Olympics GB approached ArtWorks to work with local digital artist Greg Harris to create the official art work for the Sheffield Games. Our artists worked with some of the participating athletes and Greg Harris to come up with the design. This is displayed in the city centre by the train station. Our artist also designed the official mascots for the 2017 games.
ArtWorks were granted £500 form Grow Wild to come up with a creative project that would engage people about the importance of UK native wildflowers. Our project 'Youll miss me when I'm gone' won the Star Create Youth Project for the most innovative, creative and impactful project. Artist Jack was invited to Kew Gardens to pick up the award.
Upcoming Projects
Millennium Gallery
