With literary history at the forefront of British Culture there is an onus to include a writing challenge in any City of Culture bid. An annual event with a significant prize to attract the best widest and most diverse talent, Sheffield can become the epicentre of the nation’s fictional creativity.

The city’s Hallam Rotary Club with a fifty year history of event organisation can manage, oversee and deliver this prestigious award every year in association with Sheffield City Council.

A parallel to the well established & fantastic Chance to Dance, an opportunity to bring together, showcase and promote all the choirs, choruses and singing groups we have across the city. It could culminate in a Great Sheffield Sing - maybe we could get Gareth Malone involved!

It would be a great opportunity for the people of Sheffield and the region, to show our friendly nature to welcoming people into our way of life, habits, food, passions for sport, unique character and way of life. Bring it on, we love our city and welcome all with open arms.

Would be nice to see events featuring local bands, musicians, poets and authors to celebrate the diverse range of talent coming out of the city. 

Chalk Art Festival! Chicago does this at Lincoln Park: there are different categories from professional artists to kids. Each gets a square of sidewalk to chalk draw on—with prizes for “best ofs.” Add band music, dancing, food, and festivities—its a hands-on arts day that’s great for families.

The biggest challenge: rain could make it a wash-out.

Hello, I conduct the Endcliffe Orchestra in Sheffield. I think this is a fantastic idea and opportunity. My idea is to form a the very biggest orchestra possible. To try to involve all the Sheffield amateur and semi professional orchestras, as well as students - school and uni - and all those out there who play instruments but aren’t in the above categories. Of course, for ‘Sheffield’ you could read ‘South Yorkshire’.

What about it!!!!

This is the second year the University of Sheffield’s School of Nursing and Midwifery have hosted a Dementia Creative Arts Exhibition and this year the theme is Love. The exhibition aims to demonstrate that people continue to live with dementia - be they those with memory problems, their families and supporters or dementia care practitioners. Sheffield has a very strong history of innovation and expertise in dementia care practice and education - but real expertise lies with those who know most about living with the condition, which is where the exhibition comes in.

It is essentially a community-based event and represents, we hope, what positive human relationships can achieve. Visit Jessop West Exhibition Space (opposite Henderson’s Relish and University of Sheffield tramstop) between 25th-28th May, 10am-4pm, to think again about dementia. Or visit the online exhibition (dcae2010.blogspot.com)

Manufacturing is an important part of the cities economy and contributes to the culture of the city. Sheffield is one of the worlds most respected manufacturing centres, we have successful companies like Forgemasters and companies like Boeing are still choosing to setup shop in Sheffield.

Building on the Made in Sheffield initiative and Galvanise festival why not host a week of factory open days to enable people to see how the city makes things?

Make culture affordable for everyone. Culture can change people and societies!

Printmaking facilities in Sheffield offering regular classes in non-toxic etching, collagraph, lino and woodcut every week.