Introducing The Sheffield Pioneers 2021 đ±
At the end of May ten curious humans, who call Sheffield home, set off on a six month peer-led adventure as The Sheffield Pioneers.
Together the group will pool their ideas, creativity and networks whilst exploring their own personal Learning Question. Keep reading to find out more about our amazing group of creatives and change makers.
Follow our journey on Instagram @thesheffieldpioneers â”ïž
đ„Introducing The Sheffield Pioneers 2021 đ„
Cathy Spiers (she/her)
Cathy had a wiggly journey that has brought her to Sheffield. Over the years she has explored creativity in an interdisciplinary way in social and clinical care jobs; mainly with differently abled people. Cathy is a trustee for the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust. In the near future, she hopes to develop an independent socially engaged practice, with a creative, multi-sensory and interactive approach to storytelling.
Cathyâs Learning Question is: How might I explore, identify and nurture steps needed to become an active socially engaged arts practitioner?
Connect with Cathy on Twitter.
Charlie Hammond (he/him)
Charlie is a clown and performer based in Sheffield and, over the past 8 years, has performed throughout the UK and internationally, in theatres, live-art nights, cabarets, and on the streets. He works as a Giggle Doctor for Theodora Childrenâs Charity, visiting children in hospitals as part of their ongoing care, and as a performer for Reckless Invention on their celebratory and engaging street theatre. He strives for work that enables participation and connection through live performance, and engages people in the arts through disruptions of normality.
Charlieâs Learning Question is: How can I be a rad(ical) artist?
Christina Vaughan (she/her)
Christina is a highly motivated creative entrepreneur with a strong background in international visual communication. She was born and bred in Sheffield but moved to London for uni and subsequently spent most of her professional life in London and New York. Over the years, she has worked with some of the top advertising and editorial photographers of our time and have a keen eye for photography and videography. Her latest project is based around increasing diversity behind the lens. She has recently moved back to Sheffield and when not working, her interests are my two bedlington terrier dogs, family, outdoor sports and cooking.
Christinaâs Learning Question is: How can I best create a Northern Hub for Cultura Creative while making a positive contribution to the community in Sheffield?
Emma Paragreen (she/her)
Emma is an ever-enthusiastic curator, passionate and knowledgeable in the subjects of archaeology, art, museums, historic houses and collections. A team player with strong interpersonal skills she is cheerful, professional and has a strong desire to share her own good fortune and help others to achieve their potential.
Emmaâs Learning Question is: How can my artistic practice progress and be used meaningfully to create further active participation of others?
Lora Krasteva (she/her)
Lora is an artist and cultural producer. She heads Global Voices Theatre, a female & non-binary, immigrant led theatre company dedicated to introducing international theatre by historically excluded people in the UK. She produces and creates theatre and art that are often cross-cultural and socio-politically engaged. She is one of the founders of the Migrants in Theatre Movement and works part time at Arts & Homelessness International.
Loraâs Learning Question is: How best to bring all my freelance activity under a holistic, value driven and sustainable brand?
Connect with Lora on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn or subscribe to her newsletter.
Mandy Holden (she/her)
Mandy is an architect and community engager, with a particular interest in bringing life back to redundant, unloved and difficult places for the benefit of local people. Reuse will be an essential tool in tackling the climate emergency. Her central focus is on building collaborative relationships to enable worthwhile projects. Mandyâs approach as a designer is to make connections and draw diverse strands together to deliver rich, locally specific projects.
Mandyâs Learning Question is: How might I enable communities to take over and re-imagine unloved spaces?
Sarah Givans (she/her)
Sarah is a creative individual from Sheffield with a BA Hons degree in Interior Design and a Masterâs degree in Cultural Event Management. She has skills in event and project management, social media, marketing and charity work and is interested in community and charity work, wellbeing, culture, arts and education.
Sarahâs Learning Question is: How can colour support people with their mental health?
Connect with Sarah on Twitter.
Sharna Lal (she/her)
In normal circumstances Sharna is creative, curious, thrill seeking and hunting down the next adventure.
In a post-covid world she is hungry to re-engage with all the above, now with a renewed sense of community and co-operation. From making music to making fun, Sharna is excited to see how the Learning Marathon can help her achieve her goals.
Sharnaâs Learning Question is: How can I facilitate creative events for a diverse range of people with the main focus being fun, in a post-Covid Sheffield?
Stella Mckenna (she/her)
Stella is a daughter, partner and a friend. She works as an ecosystem facilitator and community builder with GenderSmart as well as hosting The Sheffield Pioneers with Enrol Yourself. She also hosts Sister Stories womenâs circles and has the privilege of sitting on the board of Global Girl Project.
She is currently curious about how we might collectively imagine and build a regenerative, just and equal future for our people and our planet, and importantly how can she can best lend my skills and experience to that (re)imagining.
Stellaâs Learning Question is: Who do I choose to be (as the world burns)?
Connect with Stella on Instagram, LinkedIn, or through her newsletter â Our Common Future.
Wayne Hoyle (he/him)
Wayne has lived in Sheffield since 2008 and, for the last 23 years, worked locally and nationally in a variety of criminal justice and family support service roles. He has also indulged in acting, DJ-ing and journalism during this time. In addition to his day job, Wayne the Director of Fundraising for a historic Scottish estate and, during the first lockdown, co-founded Sheffield Arts Lab, of which he is the current Chair.
Wayneâs Learning Question is: How can I use my recent life experiences and knowledge of western esotericism to help people care professionals who may be at risk of âburn outâ?
Connect with Wayne on Twitter.
