Are you interested in finding out more about emerging parts of the city? Want an insight into how and why things are changing in one of the oldest parts of Sheffield? Want to engage with local artists and their creative responses to these changes? Come and find out more about the rich complexities of the Castlegate area over this creative and celebratory weekend.

Castlegate Festival is a creative and cultural celebration in the heart of the Castlegate area of Sheffield. Castlegate is undergoing quite visible change. There is a master-plan for the whole area which will see grey streets burst into life with green spaces and pop up parks. The Festival is a chance to show a little of what is happening right now, in the meanwhile, during this time of flux and how this might inform and shape the masterplan. This event gives a flavour of how people, artists, art and culture infiltrate and animate spaces and places.

Visit the festival's website to find out more... and download a full programme of events here

Activities include:

Studio Cocoa

Saturday 20th 10am-5pm and Sunday 21st 11am-4pm Yorkshire Artspace’s Artist in Residence in Castlegate, Paul Evans, has established Castlegate Open Community of Artists - COCOA. We invite you to join us for two days of exciting creative activities in our artist’s studio at Castle House. Help us create art for our large-scale projection onto Exchange Place, or enter a drawing into the prestigious COCOA ART PRIZE! Activities are suitable for all ages and all levels of ability. Also look out for COCOA POP-UP activities around Castlegate during the festival weekend.

Castlegate Flora and Fauna Tour

 Sunday 21st at 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm (starting from Castle House) Free but booking essential via email.  Join artist Helen Stratford to explore Castlegate through the eyes of Bird Deterrent expert Kevin Thearle, Urban Botanists and other experts. Part walk, part survey, part conversation, the ‘Flora & Fauna Tours’ will gather evidence of where animal and plant life - wild or domesticated, real or imagined - would like to inhabit, nest, or grow. Explore where regeneration starts, where the city ends and how plant, animal or birdlife are linked to human inhabitation! The walks’ are accessible to all ages and abilities.

Pop Up Shop

Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st 11am – 5pm Exchange Place has an eclectic mix of artists, writers, jewellers and individual creative practitioners. Meet some of them at the Pop Up Shop, specially set up for the Castlegate Festival and offering visitors the chance to purchase work produced by artists and designers based in this historic studio building.

Sheffield's Waterfront is coming back to life!

Saturday 21st at 12pm Meet at Exchange Place Studios – 2 hours free. Book by email here or phone 0114 27341890114 2734189 A walk with City Regeneration Head and Five Weirs Walk founder Simon Ogden from Victoria Quays to Kelham Island looking at the fascinating past, present and future of our waterways,  including plans for opening up the hidden delights of Sheffield’s Canal Basin, putting the Sheaf back into Sheffield, turning grey streets and derelict land into green spaces and pop up parks and opening up more of the River Don to public enjoyment (and a few intriguing bits of lost history).

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