ROAR Round-Up 2024
Another Fantastic Year of Creativity and Community
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what has been an incredible year for ROAR. From exhibitions and workshops to new resources and groundbreaking projects, our community has achieved so much. Here’s a look back at some of our highlights from the past year.
A Spotlight at Clifton Park Museum
Our Salon member exhibition at Clifton Park Museum was one of the standout moments of the year. Over three months, more than 5,000 visitors explored this showcase of creativity. It was an incredible opportunity to celebrate the talent within our community and connect with a wider audience.
Skillshare Sessions
February marked the launch of our Skillshare sessions, which have shaped much of what we’ve accomplished this year. We started with ceramics and general art-making sessions, gradually evolving into focused workshops such as Plein Air painting and an intensive portrait series. The results of our 8-week portrait Skillshare will be on display in Buzz Gallery starting January 7th—don’t miss it!
Introducing Our ROAR Residency Recipients
This year, we proudly announced Charlie Hill and Kevan Cadman as our ROAR Residency recipients. Their #MakingMakingVisible projects replaced our Incidentals program and engaged audiences in fresh and exciting ways.
Life Act’s Stage Triumph
Life Act’s stage show, Love’s Complicated, was a highlight of the spring. Performed at the Civic Theatre, this powerful production showcased incredible talent and creativity. We were thrilled to see our actors and directors featured on BBC Radio Sheffield, spreading the word about this fantastic project. Look out for Life Act’s tour in 2025!
Pottery Nights Take Off
April saw the beginning of our regular Pottery Drop-In sessions, which quickly became a Monday night staple. Led by Steve, these sessions have provided a welcoming space for people to explore the art of clay. They’ll continue in the new year, so join us on Mondays at 6 PM!
WOW Festival and Voices Unbound
In May, we partnered with WOW Rotherham for the WOW Festival. Our Voices Unbound exhibition featured solo pieces, group installations, and a spectacular performance by Amber Topaz. This event was a powerful celebration of art and expression—read more about it on our blog.
Plein Air Adventures
Our Plein Air Skillshare sessions took art into the great outdoors. From local parks to UK festivals, our painters (and even a ceramicist!) engaged passersby in meaningful conversations about creativity. These sessions truly embodied our ethos of #MakingMakingVisible. We can’t wait to see where 2025 takes us!
New Resources for Our Members
This summer, we added a plotter printer to our resources, enabling high-quality printing for exhibitions and sales. It’s been a game-changer for our members, offering another way to support their artistic practices.
Festivals and Kite Making
We Wonder and the Basant Festival at Wentworth Woodhouse were unforgettable. Our kite-making workshops and Plein Air painters brought color and creativity to these celebrations, making them true highlights of the year.
Smiles4Miles: Creative Workshops for Young People
We’re proud to have been part of the Smiles4Miles project for another year. With 52 creative workshops delivered to children and young people in Rotherham, this initiative continues to make a huge impact. Since its inception, Smiles4Miles has supported over 3,200 young people with more than 5,300 activities.
Showcasing Art at Forge Island
October brought the grand opening of Forge Island, and with it, a new opportunity for our artists. We’ve been hosting exhibitions in a pop-up gallery space, featuring members’ work, interactive installations, and our Winter Windows spectacular. The space is open until the end of January—come see what’s on display!
Portrait Skillshare and Buzz Gallery Showcase
Our final Skillshare series of the year was an 8-week intensive on portraiture. Featuring six weeks of live model sessions, these workshops have been a resounding success. Visit Buzz Gallery from January 7th to see the incredible results.
Ethnicity and Unequal Aging Project
In partnership with Lora Krasteva and the University of Sheffield, our Ethnicity and Unequal Aging project unfolded over the last two months of 2024. This moving initiative culminated in a performance and exhibition at Buzz Gallery, capturing powerful stories and fostering deep connections.
As we look ahead to 2025, we’re filled with excitement for what’s to come. A huge thank you to everyone who’s been part of ROAR this year—your creativity and passion make everything we do possible. What was your favourite ROAR moment in 2024?