By Hazel Stone, 2025
Arts and culture
About this theme
This theme covers all aspects of the arts, crafts and creative industries, including their social, cultural and economic aspects. It is one of the eight universal themes which form our grantmaking framework and allow us to address every aspect of society. Fellows’ stories
JoJo Kirtley reflects on balancing her Churchill Fellowship with life as a mother of three while exploring how survivor-led theatre can challenge violence against women and girls. Drawing on learning from practitioners across Europe, North America, and Africa, she shares how community-led creative work can build safety, solidarity, and lasting change. Now developing her Theatre of the Survivor framework in the North East of England, JoJo is putting this learning into practice to support women and communities.
By JoJo Kirtley, 2026
Carry Somers (CF 2023) received the Impact Award at the 2026 London Fashion Awards, recognising 35 years of influence and leadership in the fashion sector.
By Carry Somers, 2026
Siân Evans (CF 2011) recently graduated from the University of Sheffield with a PhD in archaeology. Her multidisciplinary research focused on female-made metal artefacts from the Imperial War Museum - and asked how gender provenance is understood in archaeometallurgy and how the culture of metalworking skills is curated and transmitted.
By Sian Evans, 2026
Lost Souls Events, founded by Hannah Stanislaus (CF 2023), announced the release of The Anthology 2026, the first publication from its new publishing house.
By Hannah Stanislaus, 2026
By Hannah Louise Partridge, 2024
Lorraine Finch (CF 2006) has been awarded the Conservation Award for Environmental Sustainability.
By Lorraine Finch, 2025
Dominic Heslop’s Churchill Fellowship explored the “cultural architecture” that allows creativity to thrive and communities to heal, taking him to Jamaica, Berlin, and Athens – each offering lessons in resilience, expression, and collective care. Back in Sheffield, Dominic is embedding these insights into his grassroots organisation Slambarz, combining artistry with structure to support young people, build community, and show how creativity can strengthen wellbeing and identity.
By Dominic Heslop, 2025
We spoke to Faith Yiminyi about her 2009 Churchill Fellowship, which took her to the United States to explore how dance companies could thrive and open opportunities for young people. At just 21, she set out to learn new styles, work with choreographers, and see how dance could build confidence and enrich communities. More than 15 years on, Faith reflects on how her Fellowship shaped her journey – from running her own dance school, to working in social care and cyber security, and now returning to dance as a board member of a community studio.
By Faith Yiminyi, 2025
Iz Durose (CF 2024) won Coastal Radio DAB's LGBTQ+ Champion Award.
By Iz Durose, 2025