No Bounds Festival returns to Sheffield this weekend for its seventh edition, with a programme of events that aim to break down barriers between music, art, and technology.
Sheffield is a city of cultural ambition and creative venture. I love the fact that No Bounds could only happen here in South Yorkshire – an independent, audacious and experimental festival rooted in the endeavour, skill and persistence of the region.
As Innovation Manager of Sheffield Cultural Industries Institute at Sheffield Hallam, I've had the privilege once again of curating a series of contemporary art installations, films, activities and performances featuring Hallam artist-researchers for the festival.
The partnership between Hallam and No Bounds places participants at the heart of active research. New sound, visuals, experiences and installations will be underpinned by deeper research on issues such as climate breakdown, femicide and the connection between human life, plants, animals and technology.
Creative research complements the festival on many levels, providing a vibrant two-way exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas that equally values the contributions of all who partake. By sharing the latest developments in the application of creativity we combine with the independence and international reputation of the festival to put the region on the cultural map.
For me, the festival always sparks my imagination and reminds me of what I love about our city. My hope is that the programme resonates with issues that matter to local communities and provides some cultural nourishment and space to connect with our sense of home and belonging, our natural environment and our innate need to create together.
I’ve purposely curated a meandering trail between various locations in the city, much of which can be walked. I’d like to think that people will be able to discover something new about the city, to experience art and culture in unexpected places. One of our installations, Flow State, invites you to explore Sheffield’s hidden rivers through 3D imaging and immersive soundscapes. As you stand in the basement of the Secret Gallery at Exchange Place Studios, you will be viewing footage captured directly below your feet from the underground chambers of the infamous Sheffield Megatron – a rarely accessed, Victorian subterranean labyrinth.
Moving towards the Wicker, a debut performance of Storm Cloud: Thrown into Form by Tom Payne at Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA) will bring a 19th Century lecture by John Ruskin to the forefront of modern climate crisis conversation.
Storm Cloud brings together cutting-edge research with an immersive, multimedia performance that blends storytelling from elders at SADACCA, with satellite data from Space Hub Yorkshire to create a mesmerising experience.
I also wanted to think beyond the city centre. A full day of family activities will be taking place at Green Estate, the site of Manor Lodge and one of the largest social enterprises in South Yorkshire.
The activities at Green Estate on Sunday 13 October are focused on our collective and individual experiences of nature and an exploration into how our social housing in the area came to be. There are documentaries, participative activities performance, and poetry around a roaring open fire pit. Free children’s activities will take place in the Turret House and outdoor toys are available throughout the site. Green Estate is such a beautiful, welcoming place, with far-reaching views over the city – a true hidden gem if you’ve not yet explored it.
These events are just a small sample of what No Bounds has to offer – our most adventurous festival to date.
Our programme contributes to the pioneering spirit at the heart of No Bounds, forging new collaborations between artists, and researchers to address social, economic and political inequalities. It is creativity applied.
It’s an exciting time for culture and creativity in Sheffield, the new Culture Strategy is developing the creative narrative of the city and we’re seeing cultural institutions, such as S1 Artspace and Yorkshire Artspace, go from strength to strength.
No Bounds is a whirlwind exploration of our entangled past and potential futures, seen through the laser-sharp prism of creativity, and we invite you to experience it for yourself.
Originally published in the Sheffield Telegraph on Thursday 10 October
