Breaking sessions & showcase
Build your foundations, confidence and style with Industrial Elements, then help bring the energy to the November showcase.
Dance. Paint. Make. Celebrate. Join a season of free creativity across Sheffield, then see it all come together on Sunday 8 November 2026 at Showroom Workstation.
Try breaking, help shape public murals, build giant lanterns and puppets, or come along for the final celebration. No experience needed. Pick what interests you and we’ll send the next opportunities straight to you.
This Is Us brings local people together to make art about where we live, the people who have achieved here, those who have moved to the area and made it home, our faiths, our heritage and our pride in place.
Young people have already filled the programme with sketches, stories, movement and painted name boards. Now those ideas are growing into two community murals, a mixed-age breaking showcase, sculpture, puppetry and giant lanterns. You can still become part of what we make.
The season ends with a free celebration and exhibition on Sunday 8 November at the Creative Lounge, Showroom Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX. Final timings and booking details are coming soon.
Community ideas are already becoming artwork and performance. Follow the journey, then register to hear about the next free sessions and celebration booking.
Choose your way in. Learn something new, contribute to a public artwork, perform, make with your family or simply join the celebration. Every activity is free; register once and we’ll send the opportunities that match your interests.
Build your foundations, confidence and style with Industrial Elements, then help bring the energy to the November showcase.
See local stories become large-scale public art. Help shape and paint two new murals with 09 Murals and a guest artist.
Make something impossible to ignore: giant willow and paper lanterns, shadow puppets, masks and recycled sculptures with Jo Veal & Patrick Amber.
Try spray cans, stencils and boards in relaxed creative tasters woven through the mural and making programme.
Bring a friend, family member or neighbour and create side by side. Everyone is welcome and you do not need any previous experience.
One date, every art form. Experience the breaking showcase, live puppetry and lanterns, murals, exhibition, film and community celebration. Free and open to all.
NHS backing keeps the programme free. SCO CIC brings the team together, and Sheffield artists and coaches turn community ideas into murals, movement and making. Meet the people bringing This Is Us to life.
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This Is Us is funded by the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board as part of its work supporting community wellbeing across North-East Sheffield. Their backing is what makes every session free to take part in.
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Voluntary Action Sheffield helps connect the programme with NHS backing and Sheffield’s voluntary and community network. vas.org.uk
Sheffield City Opportunities CIC brings the artists, partners and neighbourhood activity together, helping local ideas travel from first sketch to final celebration. As a community interest company, any surplus goes back into more projects. scocic.uk
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Cited provides Mosey and digital support in kind, helping the creative team spend more time on activities, participants and the final event. getcited.uk
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Founder of SCO CIC and the programme lead. Akash brings artists, partners and neighbourhood groups together and helps turn community ideas into the wider This Is Us programme. Read bio
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Sheffield graffiti and mural artist behind 09 Murals. Leigh leads the two public murals, including a collaborative wall made with participants, from the first designs through to the final seal. Read bio
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Breaking lead and the creative force behind Industrial Elements. Chris runs the all-ages breaking sessions and shapes the performance piece for the celebration. Read bio
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Community artist working in giant willow and paper lanterns, shadow puppetry and intergenerational making. Jo co-leads the sculptural strand and helps recruit across the neighbourhoods. @joveal_art
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Sculptor and community artist with Creative Outpost. Patrick co-facilitates the lantern and puppetry workshops and brings 3D elements into the collaborative mural. patrickamber.co.uk
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Assistant breaking coach, supporting the sessions, rehearsals and the final showcase alongside Chris.
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Assistant breaking coach, supporting the sessions, rehearsals and the final showcase alongside Chris.
We’re also joined by a guest mural artist and by filmmaker Nate, our media partner documenting the programme.
Our workshops are hosted with brilliant local organisations across the North, including Longley 4 Greens Community Centre and Reach Up Youth.
Register for early notice of workshop spaces, community paint days and free celebration booking. Pick as many activities as you like. Everything is free and there is no commitment.
You’re on the list. We’ll be in touch with the opportunities you picked and the celebration details.
In the meantime, share This Is Us with someone you would love to bring along.