2016 : our Year of Making

As part of this wonderfully creative and industrious city, this year we all have the opportunity to celebrate Sheffield’s Year of Making.

Led by Sheffield's Cultural Consortium, the Year of Making will celebrate our past, present and future as a city of makers – from advanced manufacturing to award-winning theatre, internationally significant art and design, ground breaking research and world class talent.

As part of the Year of Making, Yorkshire Artspace will be delivering a year of events and opportunities with a Year of Making twist, including our Microgrants, our annual Residency which this year will be specially commissioned by the next High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, Open Studios, Precious Little Gems Commission, a newly launched Northern Industrial Ceramic Commission, and Moments of Joy, a ground-breaking 1 year pilot programme delivered in conjunction with South Yorkshire Housing Association.

Microgrants 2016 // Open for Applications

We are now accepting applications for the 2016 Microgrants, each offering up to £500 with the aim of supporting artists in the development of their practice and increasing public access to and engagement with their work. This year, we intend to offer up to four Year of Making Microgrant awards, to artists and makers working in Sheffield.

If you’d like to apply, please visit our website for further information. You can also find out about last year's Microgrant recipients, including Tessa Lyons, Peter Griffiths, Helen Stratford (pictured above) and Lizzie Peters.

Open Studios

We welcomed over 2,000 visitors to our annual Open Studios last November! We’d like to thank the 150 artists who opened their studios and created hands-on workshops for visitors to take part in, the caterers who warmed our cockles, the sparkly volunteers and we’d especially like to thank everyone who visited.

So here’s a date for your diary! Yorkshire Artspace Open Studios 2016 will take place 18th - 20th November.

Starter Studio Programmes

In February we will be opening the annual application round for our Starter Studio Programmes. To support early career artists, we offer two Programmes; one for Designer Silversmiths & Jewellers and one for Ceramicists. Each year we’re able to offer three places to Silversmiths & Jewellers and two places to Ceramicists, with successful applicants starting in October 2016. Read more here >

Victoria Dawes, currently in her second year of the Starter Studio Programme for Ceramicists (work shown below), has been selected to take part in Hothouse, The Craft Council’s highly acclaimed development programme for up-and-coming makers. Read more here >

Precious Little Gems

Fenella Watson and Nina Rithalia (model pictured), both in their second year of the Starter Studio Programme for Designer Silversmiths & Jewellers, have been selected to receive the annual ‘Precious Little Gems’ commission from the Sheffield Assay Office, which will be shown as part of the Year of Making in the Metalwork Gallery at Museums Sheffield.

Read what Fenella and Nina have to say about their commissions and find out more about the Precious Little Gems Commissions >

Northern Industrial Ceramic Commission

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Northern Industrial Ceramic Commission, in partnership with Made North, which this year has been awarded to Mike Scown and Victoria Dawes, both in their second year of the Starter Studio Programme for Ceramicists.

This commission challenges them to make new work that conveys a sense of northern-ness through the choice of materials or way of manufacture, whilst being ‘useful’ and commercially viable.

Read more about Mike and Victoria’s plans and the Northern Industrial Project >

Exhibitions at Made North

Life on the Hill will be showing at Made North Gallery from 15th January until 27th February 2016.

Life On The Hill showcases the work of product, furniture and interior design students from the Sheffield Institute of Arts. This work is a collaboration between SIA, Made North Gallery and Urban Splash and focuses on the theme of “work, rest and play” in connection with Park Hill development.

Made North Gallery is open Wednesday - Friday 12pm-5pm and Saturdays 11am-4pm. Please visit Made North website for further information.

Castlegate Hoarding Commission: Update

Since the beginning of November, Glassball Arts Collective - artists Cora Glasser and David Ball - have listened to, read, talked about, seen, photographed and recorded many aspects of the multi-layered Castlegate site (ex Castle Market), for which they have been commissioned to produce an artwork for the hoardings.

They’ve undertaken many site visits and explorations of the area. Cora says “it was a joy to visit some of the accessible castle ruins, through an unassuming concrete hut, to view them for ourselves. Conversations, from the mundane to the academic, have also taken place and have been guided by the many people who are passionately involved in this fascinating site.”

Cora and David have more events planned over the coming weeks, with another ‘Talk with Me…’ event on Sunday 17th January 11-3pm, starting at the Peace Gardens.

Find much more information about the Castlegate Hoarding Commission >

Yorkshire Artspace Artist // News

Kiln Building and Firing Masterclass, with Penny Withers and Mike Scown

Penny and Mike will be delivering the masterclass over three sessions. You will learn about the processes and chemistry involved in low-temperature firing techniques, build a cost-free kiln entirely from recycled materials, make your own pots and help to raku fire them.

The sessions will take place on the 5th, 12th and 19th March 2016 at Manor Cottages and kiln site, Green Estate, Manor Lane, Sheffield, S2 1UL.

Course costs £225 including all materials and firing costs. To express an interest or to book a place please contact Mike at msc.ceramics@gmail.com 07982279304

‘ZWART – WIT’ Friday 15th January - Sunday 20th March 2016

Penny Withers is showing a selection of her sculptural work in an exhibition at the Kunsthius Gallery of Contemporary Art.

‘The Zwart – Wit, Black – White, exhibition showcases a select group of innovative photographers, printmakers, draftsmen and ceramicists from around the UK who are leading in their field, producing highly unique and arresting work.’

Kunsthius Gallery. Mill Green Farm, Crayke, York, North Yorkshire YO61 4TT