Welcome to Ruskin in Sheffield, an annual programme of events and activities to rediscover the legacy of John Ruskin in Sheffield.

 

John Ruskin was a renowned thinker, writer, artist and social reformer.  He founded the Guild of St George in 1871 to help make the world a better place to live in.

 

In 1875, Ruskin chose Walkley as the location for St George's Museum to house a remarkable collection of paintings, drawings, architectural casts, books and minerals.  Its purpose was to educate and inspire the metal-workers of Sheffield, whose skill he declared the best in the world.  The Ruskin Collection, owned and supported by the Guild of St George, is now housed at the Millennium Gallery.  

 

Since 2014, Ruskin in Sheffield has involved over 14,000 audiences, participants and many artists and craftspeople through its events and activities.

 

We have created events in Walkley, Totley, Rivelin Valley, Stannington, Meersbrook, Ecclesall Woods, on the Manor, at the Millennium Gallery, and around the city centre.  Another 30,000 people have seen displays in the Ruskin Collection about Ruskin in Sheffield, currently featuring artworks from the 2017 Big Draw in Walkley and Big Draw on the Manor.  We work closely with many Companions of the Guild of St George, volunteers, community organisations and cultural organisations in Sheffield.

 

In 2019, there will be national and international celebrations to mark the bicentenary of Ruskin's birth.

Throughout 2018 and 2019 Ruskin in Sheffield plans to work with adults and children to use the Ruskin Collection as a source of inspiration and ideas to celebrate and enhance the Ruskinian wealth created by three vital community assets in Sheffield:  Park Centre Community Garden in S2, Meersbrook Hall in S8, and  Walkley Library in S6.

 

We are grateful for a number of funding awards that have made Ruskin in Sheffield possible to date: Heritage Lottery Fund, Being Human Festival of Humanities, Arts Council England, Catalyst Festival of Creativity (Sheffield Hallam University) and Year of Making.