Links
Arts/Media
Access Space
Open-door, free media lab developing skills, community, fun and creativity with help, free open-source software (Linux), all with recycled computers, in the town centre. Also provides a web design service, see http://design.access-space.org
Art in the Park
Art in the Park is a community environmental arts organisation to inspire people and strengthen communities. Established in 2003 by local artists for creative activities and regeneration, it now extends to open-access art events in green spaces around the whole of Sheffield. They welcome volunteers and community artists to develop different skills and confidence, giving opportunities for creative play for both adults and children. A great forum for people to interact with different members of the community and their everyday environment.
Bank Street Arts
A charitable arts organisation, proudly unfunded and independent, near the market and cathedral. It offers a cafe alongside galleries, studios, offices, workshops and project spaces. Ongoing events range from contemporary art installations to poetry readings and discussions.
BitFixIT Cafe
A group of great volunteers who enjoy mending computers to help the community. Free computer-fixing workshop on Saturdays from 12pm-3pm. Bring your broken computer, or just your questions. Based in Burngreave, walking distance from city centre, see website for directions.
Burngreave Community Radio
Uniting, informing and entertaining the community, including community projects and languages, broadcasting on 103.1 FM. Founded by local legend Aisha Special K
Cinema Coatimundi
A Sheffield-based collective which shows films and raises money for activist groups and projects. Screenings take place on the last Sunday of the month, and there is always vegan food available.
Cinema Syndicate
Cinema Syndicate is an anarchist cinema collective which shows of political and activist films for FREE. This happens almost every Tuesday night, at least when Lecture Theatre 2, The Arts Tower, University of Sheffield is open, which is the usual venue. Events are open to all. They say that Anarchism is not an argument to be won or a cause to sign up to. It is a process.
Derek's Bookshelf
Local second-hand book lover Derek appears at fayres and festivals around Sheffield, and also sells online and at Regather Works (which is also on this listing). His motto is: Turning read into green!
Golden Harvest
Books, magazines, herbs and seed suppliers established since 1998. Bong! Happy birthday!
The Forum, Devonshire Street, Sheffield city centre. Tel. Sheff. 249 1311
LaDIYFest Sheffield
LaDIYFest Sheffield is a DIY, anti-capitalist, community based, feminist festival run by volunteers, led primarily by women but all are welcome to get involved. It aims to highlight female and LGBTQ art, projects and activism in the community, promoting social change in a non-discriminatory environment through music, performance art, spoken word, films, discussions, art exhibitions and practical workshops etc.
Maggie's Dead.com
Margaret Thatcher was the 1980s Conservative prime minister who brought destruction to industries and working class communities like South Yorkshire. The deliberately engineered miners' strike smashed the unions. Repressive laws banned many freedoms to party and protest. Public assets were sold cheaply into private hands, and the bankers got massively richer. Hardly surprising that many people anticipated this death with less than sympathy and respect.
Mule
Mule is "News with a kick", a not-for-profit, grassroots, project committed to using media production and mass distribution as a tool for promoting social, environmental and economic justice and peace. And it's based not far away, in Manchester. Well worth a look.
Now Then
A free pro-active community magazine for Sheffield. An excellent read, with adverts only from independent traders, community groups and good causes. Available around the city and also downloadable back issues
Open Rights Group Sheffield
This group offers open meetings for anyone interested to discuss and learn about the various issues thrown up by new technology, Things like digital rights and privacy, copyright, 'copyleft', open data, censorship and freedom of speech, software freedom and open source, social networking, digital inclusion, electronic democracy and internet law....
Opus Creations
Positive social change through non-corporate, independent community arts, music and charity events. From poetry to music, laptop trickery to DJs. And cheap accessible gigs. They also provide recording and rehearsal space Studio 45 and Bad Monkey - design, print and distribution service. And they broadcast weekly on Sheffield Live radio station - have a listen. They even run a magazine Now Then
Out Aloud
Sheffield's first gay choir, enabling members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Sheffield to come together and enjoy singing. It's open to everyone and no auditions are needed. You don't need to be an experienced singer or read music.
Peace In The Park
Sheffield's coolest, nicest, not-for-profit festival, already planning for the coming summer. It has been called "More a movement than an event"
Portland Works
A group of volunteer tenants and supporters are ensuring the survival of one of the great buildings of Sheffield, built in 1877, by community purchase and social ownership. They offer low-cost workshop space to small manufacturing businesses and independent artists and craftspeople, a cross section of talent following in the footsteps of the "Little Mesters" who made Sheffield famous.
Rare and Racy
This shop is a Sheffield legend. Bigger on the inside than the outside, it has a fantastic, quirky collection. Second-hand books, prints and original paintings, many by Yorkshire and Derbyshire artists, and music on vinyl and CD (especially blues, jazz, improvised music, electronic, noise and other non commercial contemporary music: pay a visit just for the background music!)
Rotherham MB Forum
Online Rotherham discussion forum, which seems to have disappeared recently. Anyone know of ANY Rotherham forums operating please email us ... thanks.
Rotherham Red Choir
Left wing singers of songs about the lives of ordinary people, and what they are up against, inspired by folk songs, protest and campaign songs from the British Isles and around the world.
Rude Shipyard
Home cooked meals, second-hand & new books for sale, and musical instruments to try out. Sally and Pete are open to more ideas to try in this friendly place which has events like CD music nights, see the website. Open every day except Wednesdays. 89 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield S7 1FE
Same Difference
Training on equality and diversity using drama, theatre and audience participation, based in Rotherham. Details from Steve 01709 829446 or Taiba 01709 720744
Sheffield Indymedia
Sheffield's finest independent news online.
Sheffield Live
A genuine live community radio station broadcasting on FM, over the internet and even on podcasts, right from the city centre
Sheffield Samba Band
Formed in 2001, inspired by the power of radical Samba Bands with wicked tunes in protests and demonstrations. It encourages everyone to join, from people who have never picked up a musical instrument in their life to the most experienced. Excellent website, even includes video clips!
Sheffield Socialist Choir
Formed over 20 years ago, and still having fun in the long tradition of radical singing in Sheffield and the industrial north. New singers welcome!
Sheffield Street Art
If you like the alternative art gallery on our city's walls, see this website. It is a real treasure-trove archive of beautiful photos, details and locations of Sheffield's street art, past, present and future.
Sheffield Voices of Resistance
A YouTube channel run from Sheffield, with videos of local people and protests. Further videos are being added.
Showroom Cinema
The only Sheffield cinema that makes an effort to show more than Hollywood films. A great, ever-changing selection of films including international ones, and film festivals
Shrodoba Scrapstore
Doing its bit for recycling, Shrodoba Scrapstore sells arts, craft and scrap materials, and offers art workshops for children and training for adults. It's open to parents and anyone who works or volunteers with children. You may remember it being based on Nursery Street, now it's above Rotherham Market and serving (Sh)effield, (Ro)therham, (Do)ncaster and (Ba)rnsley ... get it? (The clue's in the name!)
Side by Side Intercultural Drama Group
An award-winning, user-led Sheffield community drama group which aims to promote intercultural understanding, integration and cohesion between people of all social, ethnic, cultural and faith backgrounds. It uses drama as a tool for developing confidence and self-expression, building friendships and exploring themes that are important and relevant to members. No previous theatre experience or English language skills are necessary, refugees and asylum seekers are particularly welcome to join.
Email admin@sidebyside.me.uk or call 079438 12382
The Fargate Speaker
This long-running bi-monthly publication of the Anarchist Federation in Sheffield now in the form of an online blog, and print newssheets on an occasional basis. Regular reports on events, anarchist news and views from the steel city.
The Grail Newspaper
A Sheffield-based newspaper published occasionally. It blends themes of ecology, peace, spirituality and ending poverty. Beautiful artwork, poetry and writing with the wisdom of the ages. New contributions are welcome.
Vuka Theatre Group
Formed 1999 in Zimbabwe. African struggles told through drama, music and dance. Details from Steve Rogers 01709 367287
Women in Construction Arts and Technology (WICAT)
Re-opened with a great voluntary community spirit, WICAT in Burngreave offers courses for women (and some for men also) including car maintenance, bricklaying, plastering, tiling, plumbing, DIY and book-keeping. Prices are cheap, just to cover costs. And they have a 'tool library' for women who have done courses to borrow tools. WICAT also promotes and supports women working and training in non-traditional trades, through networking events.
Working Woodlands Ltd
Working Woodlands is a not-for-profit enterprise promoting the sustainable use of woodlands and their products for the benefit of both wildlife and people, since 1997.
The gallery in Ecclesall Woods Sawmill (Abbey Lane, S7 2QZ) is a unique exhibition space for woodcrafts people, furniture makers and artists using sustainable local timber and locally-sourced timber products; firewood, charcoal and woodchip – all vital parts of the sustainable tree cycle. They also offer advice and support for new and existing sustainable wood-based projects, community initiatives and businesses. As part of this mission they develop, promote and deliver training and learning with innovative educational events on traditional woodland crafts, heritage skills and the sustainable management of woodlands.
