Ex-bank to become new home for arts organisation

A former city centre bank building is to be transformed into a major arts and cultural venue.

The old Yorkshire Bank Chambers, in Sheffield's Fitzalan Square, will be restored and expanded to create a new home for arts organisation S1 Artspace.

The Grade II listed building has been purchased using a portion of the £20m pledged to the city in 2021 from the former government's Levelling Up Fund and will form part of the plans for the regeneration of the Castlegate area.

Louise Hutchinson, from S1 Artspace, described the project, which will be carried out in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, as a "monumental step".

The renovated building will feature two floors of public galleries that will showcase works by local, national, and international artists.

It will also include artist studios, a community and events space, a research centre, a shop profiling local artists and makers and an independent bar, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

S1 Artspace had originally wanted to create a gallery at Park Hill with an outdoor sculpture park, but Ms Hutchinson said that plan had been "derailed following the financial impact of the pandemic".

She said securing a permanent home would allow the organisation to "move forward and establish a space that places artistic practice firmly at its core".

Sheffield Hallam University has already transformed the former Sheffield head post office in Fitzalan Square into the Creative Industries Institute, home to its department of art and design, a cafe and exhibition space.

Vice-chancellor Prof Liz Mossop said: “Since S1’s foundation by Hallam students and artists in 1995, we’ve seen the positive impact our relationship has had on attracting, nurturing and retaining creative talent in Sheffield.

"Our new memorandum of understanding builds on this and provides some outstanding opportunities to continue our work together.”

Another key part of the Castlegate regeneration scheme involves turning the ruins of Sheffield Castle into a public park celebrating the city's historic birthplace and opening up the culverted River Sheaf.

Meanwhile plans to convert nearby listed building, Canada House on Commercial Street, to create a home for Sheffield Music Academy, Sheffield Music Hub, Brass Bands England and Music in the Round are also progressing.

Ben Miskell, chair of Sheffield City Council's transport, regeneration and climate policy committee, said the project would "put culture firmly at the heart of Sheffield’s city centre transformation".

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