Funded Projects
Creative Barnsley Hive
CB HIVE is a complex of artist studios and contemporary non-commercial gallery space and is the first major project of Creative Barnsley, a social enterprise dedicated to networking and promoting the creative sector in Barnsley. The studios offer a unique chance for artists to develop their practice in a stimulating environment adjacent to HIVE Gallery. HIVE Gallery is a new space showing the best in emerging and established artistic talent. The exhibition programme includes, among others, Sir Peter Blake’s Alphabet prints. Alongside the non-commercial gallery space, is Gallery B, a hireable smaller gallery that artists can use to showcase their work and The Studio, a space available for rent by the hour or day for artists and educational purposes.
Creative Exchange: South Yorkshire (CE:SY) funding has been invaluable to the realisation of CB HIVE Studios and HIVE Gallery. The funding has supported the physical work of creating the spaces within the premises at Elsecar Heritage Centre and enabled delivery of a high quality working environment for tenants. In turn this will help ensure sustainability as the rental income will support the running of CB HIVE. The tenants have a great place to work and a culturally significant gallery that they link to. Additional projects at the site have also been explored with support from CE:SY, allowing planning to take place for an increasingly sustainable and exciting future.
“CE:SY is about more than just funding – support staff have worked with us to help us achieve what we feel is a fantastic project and a successful realisation of the aims of the CE:SY programme. Creative Barnsley and the CB HIVE project are real success stories – CE:SY is very much a part of this success.” Tracey Johnson, Creative Barnsley: CB HIVE Studios and HIVE Gallery.
Email: tracey@creativebarnsley.co.uk
Tel: 01226 743122 or 07956 699 648
Web: www.creativebarnsley.co.uk/hivegallery
Stag Works
This exciting and innovative project, undertaken by the Little Sheffield Development Trust, involves the renovation of the Grade II listed building, known as Stag Works in order to provide secure and affordable studios and offices targeted at the Sheffield music industry. When completed, the building will provide between 50 and 60 managed workspaces, some shared facilities, a café bar, a live music venue and a training suite.
The Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) funding has transformed the Stag Works project. With the resources provided, Stag Works have been able to select and engage an extremely well qualified consultant, who in a few months has produced an excellent business plan and raised the profile of Stag Works with the key partners in the region.
“CE:SY has moved our project from the back burner to full speed ahead and brought us into contact with a number of equally original and creative projects in the region.” Alan Deadman, Stag Works.
Email: al@jujuclub.co.uk
Tel: 07903 949931
Web: www.electroworks.org
Harmony Training
Harmony Training is a social enterprise based in Hiillsborough, Sheffield. Their mission is to increase the skills, confidence and employability of South Yorkshire communities through music. In particular they specialise in music industry training courses for women and girls.
Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) has enabled the organisation to research and build on a number of partnership opportunities with The Burton Street Foundation and has secured their on-site premises. In addition Harmony now manage the recording studio and live room facilities at Burton Street making it possible to develop a wide range of training and business support initiatives such as 1-2-1 mentoring and Band Development. They have just completed delivery of two Find Your Voice workshops for CE:SY, combining yoga and vocal techniques to increase confidence, with five of their learners going on to join Harmony’s choir, the Voxettes, and perform at Harmony’s launch party. They have employed a new Studio Manager who will progress the development of music technology training and other music related projects, and are building relationships with local schools and youth groups.
“Moving in to Burton Street and running their studio facilities has been a fantastic opportunity for Harmony. We are now part of a local community and benefit from the great reputation and good will that Burton Street generates. We have also made great links with local youth groups and bands in the area, and demand for the studio and our training is high. As one of the bands who has just recorded in our studio said: ‘our recording time at the Burton Street studio was great. The equipment was top notch...and we have a top demo’” Josie Robson, Harmony.
Email: info@harmonytraining.org.uk
Tel: 0114 221-3859
Web: www.harmonytraining.org.uk
Ash Tree Yard
Heeley Development Trust is a Community Anchor Organisation, working with local groups and creative industries to redefine Heeley as a successful, vibrant, environmentally conscious community. The redevelopment of the Ash Tree Yard site will create an asset that supports the community activities but sets a local standard for environmentally friendly development and on going management. It will create 15,000 square feet of affordable workspace and a community of local creative business who actively reduce their carbon footprint in practical everyday ways with support. Tenants will be supported to live local - work local, reducing the impact of their actions and the footprint of the site.
Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) have funded the development of a feasibility study and business plan. Working with Creative Industries Partnership and CE:SY Heeley Development Trust have been able to prove the viability of the plan and the local demand for this development. Secondly, CE:SY have offered support and advice throughout the project, access to networks and expertise and enabled comparisons with other projects across South Yorkshire.
“Creative Exchange have given us the chance to do something we have talked about for a long time and not had the means to achieve. They have backed us up, delivered what they promised on time and really importantly they have believed in us” Andy Jackson, Ash Tree Yard Creative Industries Hub
Email: andy.j@heeleydevtrust.com
Tel: 0114 2 500 613
Web: Under Construction
Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance
Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR) is seeking to support the regeneration of Rotherham by establishing an independent arts centre for professional artists living or working in the area. The centre will be the first of its kind in Rotherham and will be based at the St. Ann’s building, a building on the Unity Centre site that requires complete refurbishment. The completed workspace will incorporate rehearsal and performance space, a recording studio, a film making studio, visual artists’ studio and office space.
Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) has provided ROAR with two awards; the first was used to secure the St. Ann’s building by carrying out extensive repairs to the roof and adding security grills to the doors. The second award has recently been granted to produce a comprehensive strategic building plan to assist ROAR in the development of the St Ann’s building in their quest t secure further investment.
"The first grant from Creative Exchange: South Yorkshire allowed us to make the building secure and watertight. With our second grant we are now making parts of the building habitable for visual artists and finalising a plan for its refurbishment." Steve Rogers, Director ROAR
Email: steve@omtc.org.uk
Telephone: 01709 367287
Burton Street Foundation
Burton Street Foundation is a well established community anchor organisation in Hillsborough, Sheffield who offer day services to adults with learning and physical disabilities, space and support to community based groups and clubs, and space for small businesses. Their aim is to provide a suitable working and social environment for a rich and diverse range of individuals. They strive to be a creative hub, offering everything from renting by the hour to fully fitted office suites, to meet the needs of a fast moving economy. Businesses can also access training and meeting rooms, book the function suite, eat in the café and join the gymnasium.
Creativity is at the heart of what Burton Street Foundation do and the Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) programme has been the focus of the Burton Street Foundation’s long term business development. They have received funding to carry out a full audit of Burton Street’s potential for future cultural and digital industries development. A feasibility study has also been completed which researches and identifies ways in which Burton Street Foundation can play a greater role to develop creative and digital industries in North Sheffield. Existing space is being refurbished to be used for creative workspace and they are increasing the ease of access for wheelchair users. CE:SY have assisted with partnership opportunities between Burton Street Foundation and Harmony Training, secured Harmony Training to move into an on-site premises at Burton Street.
“The Creative Exchange Team are motivated and inspirational; they are one of our key partners.” Dave Clarson MBE, Burton Street Foundation.
Email: dclarson@burtonstreet.org.uk
Tel: 0114 233 2908
Conmedia Sheffield Ltd
Commedia Sheffield is Sheffield’s leading community media organisation supplying training in media and ICT skills, offering public access to the Internet and providing users with access to media production and broadcast facilities. Commedia Sheffield operates Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM, a full-time community radio service on FM and on the internet (webcasting and podcasting), as well as providing a public drop-in facility, regular training courses at all levels, and mentoring support and guidance.
Commedia Sheffield are currently moving to The Workstation on Paternoster Row in order to develop a community enterprise centre that can support spin-off and related media and social enterprises, and to build a long term sustainable economic base for their operations. Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) is providing funding to help facilitate the relocation of their existing facilities and operations, Commedia Sheffield are utilising the monies to employ architects and other professional advisors to work on the relocation and bring the project to full design stage.
“The CE:SY Innovation Fund has enabled Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM to move to new premises within the city centre and to run an innovative training course which marries basic skills and media training for the first time.” Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive, Commedia Sheffield Ltd.
Phone: 0114 281 4082
Email: info@sheffieldlive.org
Website: www.sheffieldlive.org
Creative Outpost
The Creative Outpost is a two-stage initiative. Stage 1 is the environmentally sustainable restoration and renovation of a landmark Grade II listed building which is Burngreave Chapel and Cemetery. Stage 2 is the economically sustainable development of the building for creative, community and commercial use. The aim of the project is to develop an economically sustainable creative and community centre, comprising artist studios, managed workspace for creative companies, a programme of creative events, a program of heritage projects and a mixed-use community space in the largest green space within the area.
Creative Exchange: South Yorkshire (CE:SY) has provided Creative Outpost with valuable support, guidance and networking opportunities and contacts with similar initiatives. Through the Innovation Fund grant, Creative Outpost has been able to appoint consultants who have objectively reviewed the organisation and projects. The CE:SY award has also enabled the project to raise its profile in the professional arena, and in doing so it has attracted further European networking and partnership opportunities as well as other funding.
”Working with CESY is inspiring and refreshing, allowing true growth through continued support and whole hearted input from the CESY team” Cassie Limb, Creative Outpost.
Email: Cassie: xandra@burngreave.net Jennifer: jennifermargaretbooth@googlemail.com
Tel: 07950014781
Web: www.creativeoutpostburngreave.com
Darley Arts
Darley Arts sets out to help young adults wanting to pursue careers in the arts and media industries. Some live or work on site whilst others visit the site to use the facilities. Members are either local individuals with a talent (who have usually dropped out of the education system), students at the local University College, or individuals and groups that are starting businesses to actively develop their careers.
The Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) funding has helped in two ways. Firstly, it has allowed Darley Arts to commission a piece of consultancy looking at ways to greatly extend and develop the whole project. Secondly, it has funded the initial design work necessary to build a phase of the project that will be specifically used for the “creative exchange” aspects of Darley Arts.
“We have felt very much on our own over the last ten years because starting businesses, or careers, in the creative industries is so different to other sectors and our approach is new and untested. In the CE:SY programme we have found a wider sharing of our vision and a mechanism for cooperating and learning from a wide network. The financial help has lead to a real start in developing the size and quality of our project.” Bill Borgia, Chair of Darley Arts.
Email: bill@darleyarts.co.uk
Tel: 07929 454115
Web: www.bview.tv and www.darleyarts.net
Heeley Bank Centre
Heeley Development Trust (HDT) is a Community Anchor Organisation, working with local groups and creative industries to redefine Heeley as a successful, vibrant, environmentally conscious community. HDT are working with local and creative businesses towards a successful redevelopment and the ownership transfer of the Heeley Bank Centre as a Creative Industries Hub and focus for local community activity. Heeley Bank Centre is a dilapidated Grade II listed Victorian school building occupied by a diverse group of Creative Industry tenants including the First Circle Artists, an indoor climbing wall and a mix of community groups.
Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) are enabling HDT to produce a comprehensive feasibility study, marketing plan and financial strategy which will demonstrate options for the successful redevelopment and transfer of the Heeley Bank Centre. The feasibility study will provide clear evidence to the current building owners who are Sheffield City Council. It will also examine the long term viability of the centre as a community owned and managed workspace facility.
“CE:SY has provided funding to produce a feasibility study for the centre. This will give us the missing piece we need to develop the site.” Andy Jackson, Heeley Bank Centre.
Email: andy.j@heeleydevtrust.com
Tel: 0114 250 0613
Point Blank Theatre Company
Point Blank will create a flourishing live arts space to nurture, develop and showcase new and emerging artists across a range of media (theatre, dance, music, cabaret etc). As a licensed venue also serving food, the space will generate sustainable income within the open market. Point Blank intends to take ownership of (ideally) a public house and convert this as appropriate into a ‘Live Space’ which can be used to develop, produce and showcase live and exhibiting work. Although focused on promoting live arts the venue will be used to showcase the work of visual artists, designers and other associated art forms. In addition the venue will be used to consolidate and develop Point Blank’s creative skills academy and managed workspaces for creative enterprises offering placements, training and support. The target for this venue is the Riverside Café Bar which is situated on Mowbray Street in Sheffield. It is close to Sheffield’s ‘Real Ale’ circuit and is situated in an area of the city undergoing a strong programme of regeneration with a mix of student accommodation, residential city centre private living accommodation and new office developments.
The grant from Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) will enable Point Blank to build a customised studio and small scale theatre space in the beer garden adjacent to the main property. This space will be integral to both the financial and social returns of the business and the grant therefore represents an intervention which is essential to the success of the project – ultimately bringing benefit to several thousand South Yorkshire residents each year.
“It is exciting to be part of such as an innovative programme of cultural regeneration in the region and we are extremely pleased that CE:SY are supporting projects which are based outside of the main investment areas where much of the region’s previous regeneration investment has been focused.” Jon Maiden, Point Blank Theatre Company.
Email: jon@pointblank.org.uk
Tel: 0114 249 3650
Web: www.pointblank.org.uk
Sheffield Independent Film
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Digital Entrepreneurs is an exciting new business development project created by Sheffield Independent Film (SIF) in partnership with Darnall Education Centre Associated Training Cooperative (DECAT), as part of Sheffield City Council’s LEGI BiG programme.
Digital Entrepreneurs is set to use state-of-the-art technology to create groundbreaking hubs of entrepreneurial activity in Sheffield’s disenfranchised communities. Sheffield has over 92% of its 500,000 population able to receive broadband over existing phone lines - setting the territory to house the country’s first ‘Electric Village.’ Digital Entrepreneurs aims to create a virtual community of home working, web-savvy business-owners that come from disadvantaged ‘Closing the Gap’ communities.
Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) have provided funding to support the development of the Darnall based community hub and to facilitate information transfer systems between the host organisation Sheffield Independent Film and it’s partner DECAT. The monies will specifically be used to upgrade the Digital Entrepreneurs facilities and to complete the business plan, funding package, and architect designs.
“CE:SY provided essential development funding at just the right time to really give our project the necessary momentum to succeed.” Daren Eagles, SIF Executive Director
Email: admin@digitalentrepreneurs.org.uk
Phone: 0114 272 0304
Website: www.digitalentreprenuers.org.uk
Jade
Just Another Dance Event (JADE) was formed 9 years ago by a number of young entrepreneurs with the aim of offering opportunities to young people, through the medium of music and performance as an alternative to the street culture of South Rotherham. JADE has been successful in running a young people’s drop in centre based in Kiveton Park for the past 2 years and they have secured a large premises split into three stages of development. Stage one is complete and they are now busy developing the rest of the building into a creative centre, providing IT and music technology training and managed workspace for creative businesses.
Creative Exchange South Yorkshire (CE:SY) has provided JADE with the funding to hire a specialist consultant to undertake local research/consultation and produce a combined business plan and financial funding strategy for the JADE centre. This activity will enable JADE to operate as a social enterprise and develop the sustainability of the centre.
“The CE:SY grant will enable us to develop an up-to-date business plan, this will help us to develop our building into a creative centre and ensure the long term sustainability of our organisation and its charitable activities.” Sam Oldroyd, Project Manager, JADE
Email: jadehq@btconnect.com
Tel: 01909 515912
