Artist finds inspiration in residency at Sheffield town hall

Sheffield Town Hall will soon be hosting its second ‘artist in residence’, as part of the first ever collaboration of its type between a local authority and an art society.

Katie Davies will start as ‘Artist in Residence’ at Sheffield Town Hall on Monday 6th October until Friday 28th November.

Her eight week residency is the result of a unique collaboration between Sheffield City Council and Yorkshire Artspace Society to place two local artists at Sheffield Town Hall, each for an eight week period.

It’s the first time Sheffield Town Hall has been used as a location in such a way, and it’s also the first time Yorkshire Artspace Society has organised residencies outside of their studio complex. It’s probably the first for any Town Hall in the country.

The Town Hall will be the source of Katie’s inspiration over the weeks to come. During her time here, Katie intends to make a film that focuses on many of the ceremonial and daily work routines that take place within the Town Hall.

The film will be shot in many different locations around the building. It will aim to give a sense of the Town Hall’s many civic duties and work operations such as the Citizenship Ceremonies which take place there every week, as well as the in-house mail service which is responsible for the distribution of information to over 18,000 Sheffield City Council staff.

Cllr Sylvia Dunkley, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Streetscene, from Sheffield City Council said: “I’m delighted to welcome Katie to Sheffield Town Hall.

“Sheffield is an incredibly creative city, with more artists working here than anywhere else other than London. And to bring an artist into the Town Hall, to be inspired by this building, and everything that goes on here, is a wonderful way to open up the Town Hall to the city’s creative sector, and to its citizens.”

Katie will write a blog on the Council’s website and will organise various workshops and events for staff at the Council to find out more about her work and what it’s like creating a work of art.

Trish O’Shea, the first artist to have a residency at Sheffield Town Hall (7 July to 29th August 08), has used her time there to observe, draw, take photographs and talk to the people who work in the building. As a result, Trish has exhibited her ‘work in progress’ both in areas of the Town Hall and in Persistence Works, the studio belonging to Yorkshire ArtSpace Society.

There will be a public event to exhibit both artists’ final work early next year.