Sponsorship at the Millennium Gallery - Sheffield Museums Trust

This spring, a major new exhibition at the Millennium Gallery celebrates the marvel of metal in all its forms and its longstanding connection with the city.

Coinciding with the 400^th anniversary of The Company of Cutler’s in Hallamshire, Show Your Metal showcases over 100 objects drawn from Sheffield’s Designated Metalwork Collection and a host of significant loans from across the UK. Together, they recognise the pioneering advances that earned the city a global reputation and the breathtaking creative possibilities of this endlessly adaptable material.

Show Your Metal is generously supported by Gold Sponsor, Forged Solutions Group. At the heart of advanced manufacturing industries for more than 100 years, they provide high integrity forgings for the world’s most demanding applications.

A sculptural, silver coloured metal form reminiscent of a flame, a wave or an exotic plant. It is shown against a monochrome background with high contrast lighting.

Shinta Nakajima, Acanthus VII, 2023, Britannia Silver And Copper. Purchase Supported By The Contemporary Arts Society. Photo © Shinta Nakajima

At Forged Solutions Group, we are honoured to support the Show Your Metal exhibition as Gold Sponsors. This exhibition is a perfect opportunity to celebrate Sheffield's historic and ongoing contributions to the metalworking industry. Our partnership with Sheffield Museums highlights our dedication to preserving the city's rich industrial legacy and inspiring the next generation of innovators in metallurgy. Supporting Sheffield Museums and exhibitions like Show Your Metal allows us to give back to the community that has been the foundation of our success. These initiatives provide educational opportunities and foster a sense of pride and identity within the region. By investing in cultural heritage, we not only honour the past but also build a platform for future technological advancements and industry leadership. Our sponsorship helps ensure that the inspiring stories of innovation and perseverance continue to be shared with audiences of all ages.

Ben McIvor, President at Forged Solutions Group

From technology and transport to jewellery, art and architecture, the applications of metal are countless and varied. Show Your Metal celebrates Sheffield’s rich metalworking heritage, which dates back to the 12^th century. In the years that followed, the city has become home to a multitude of internationally significant developments and innovation.

The exhibition also celebrates the spectacle of metal in the hands of artists through dazzling displays of creativity, craft and skill, considering the cultural and economic value we attach to this endlessly adaptable material. The displays feature several artworks by Cornelia Parker, as well as work by artists Joseph Cutts, Mark Firth, Otobong Nkanga and Bridget Smith. The skills of makers and craftspeople working in the city today also shine, with showcased pieces by Stephen Cocker, Maria Hanson, Grace Horne, Shinta Nakajima, Brett Payne and more.

Sculpture with a silver bowl and black, abstract, geometric lines

Chris Knight, Sketch on a bowl. Photograph Jerry Lampson

Sponsorship plays a vital role in enabling us to work collaboratively to showcase and celebrate Sheffield’s stories and present outstanding cultural experiences in the city. We’re hugely grateful to Forged Solutions Group for their support in making this exhibition possible.

Kim Streets, Chief Executive at Sheffield Museums

Show Your Metal is also supported by Silver Sponsors, Sheffield Assay Office and The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, and Bronze Sponsors, ICD Europe, Outokumpu, Rotabroach, Sheffield Forgemasters, and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Show Your Metal opens at Millennium Gallery on Thursday 13 June and continues until Sunday 29 September 2024 – entry to the exhibition is free, donations welcome.

Image (L-R): Mark Parramore, Liz Telford Sides, Jackie Hamil-Keys, Kim Streets, Andy Whitehouse.