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The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

Festival of Debate

Each year, Sheffield's Festival of Debate sparks conversations that shift clouds from around some of the big issues we face. Through talks, poetry performances and workshops, it helps to clear paths towards answers to questions that can sometimes seem too big to ask.

The politics festival took place for the first time in 2015 as the country prepared for general election. Running for the tenth time from 16 April to 25 May, the 2024 edition explores solutions to some of the pressing issues that we face here in Sheffield and beyond.

Scroll down for our top 10 picks from the packed Festival of Debate 2024 programme.

For more, see the Festival of Debate website.

Festival of Debate is organised by the fine folks at Opus. Events take place in venues across the city and online. Many are free, while others are discounted for people on low/no wages.

With the Clothes on Our Backs and a Song on Our Lips

Wed. 17 April 2024

Mappin Hall, Mappin Street, S1 3JD

Join Surabhi Shukla for a talk in the Lectures on Gender and Sexuality series. Looking at fears and hopes of couples – primarily queer women – who have executed marriage affidavits with each other in India, despite same sex marriages not being legal.

Culture is Not an Industry

Sat. 20 April 2024

Culture is at the heart of what it means to be human. But 25 years ago, the government rebranded art and culture as 'creative industries', valued for their economic contribution. Justin O’Connor’s new book looks at where that leaves culture now.

Sathnam Sanghera: Empireworld

Tue. 30 April 2024

Creative Lounge, Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, S1 2BX

Author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera talks to broadcaster Désirée Reynolds about his new book on the legacies of the British empire around the world.

Where We Find Ourselves: A Co-Listening Practice

Multiple dates

Bloc Projects

Drawing on the work of experimental composer Pauline Oliveros (1932–2016), artist Ian Nesbitt invites you to come together, reflect and listen. Connecting with ideas of deep listening as a transformative collective practice.

Resilience Symposium

Thu. 9 May 2024

The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, S1 4FW

Join Welcoming Cultures for a day of talks celebrating the resilience of marginalised communities. Looking at how organisations can support resilience in the workplace, shared moments as powerful ways of creating solidarity and connection, and more.

Emerging Futures: Indy Johar & Sophia Parker

Thu. 9 May 2024

The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, S1 4FW

How can we, together, build new ways of being to replace economic/social models that are failing us and the planet? Indy Johar (Dark Matter Labs) and Sophia Parker (Joseph Rowntree Foundation) explore some of the systems that are already emerging.

Grace Blakeley: Vulture Capitalism

Mon. 13 May 2024

Creative Lounge, Showroom Workstation, Paternoster Row, S1 2BX

Socialist economist Grace Blakeley takes on the world’s most powerful corporations. She shows how the causes of our modern crisis are the intended result of our capitalist system – and what we can do to change it.

How Can the River Don Ask For Help?

Tue. 14 May 2024

Weston Park Museum

The River Dôn Project is an innovative initiative looking at the future rights of nature. Join the team for live demos and a conversation on how 'hearing' the River Don can help us address climate breakdown and biodiversity loss in South Yorkshire.

Corinne Fowler: Our Island Stories

Wed. 15 May 2024

Millennium Gallery

The British countryside is rarely seen as having anything to do with British colonialism. Historian Corinne Fowler brings rural life and colonial rule together to look at how telling the full story can deepen Britons' relationship with the landscape.

Jackie Kay: May Day

Thu. 23 May 2024

The Leadmill

Join the much-loved poet for an evening of readings and reflections hosted by Désirée Reynolds. Jackie's poems span decades of political activism – from her Glasgow childhood, through 80s/90s feminist, LGBT+ and anti-racist movements, to the present.