Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery features a programme of temporary exhibitions plus permanent galleries that provide a glimpse into the city’s artistic legacy and modern culture. Opened in 2001, this free-entry museum showcases art, design and Sheffield’s history.
What to see at the Millennium Gallery
The gallery’s permanent collection is split between the Sykes Gallery and the Ruskin Collection.
The Sykes Gallery presents Sheffield’s metalwork heritage, displaying an array of metal craftsmanship. From cutlery to silverware, it reflects Sheffield’s tradition of metalwork.
The Ruskin Collection, donated by artist and writer John Ruskin, includes manuscripts, minerals, watercolours and drawings, emphasising nature’s influence on art.
Temporary exhibition at the Millennium Gallery
The gallery hosts temporary exhibitions in collaboration with institutions that have included the V&A and Tate. Current and planned exhibitions include:
Ways of Water
This exhibition (until 12 May 2024) examines local water systems across Yorkshire and Derbyshire, tracing their historical roots and modern implications, particularly stemming from the 1832 Sheffield cholera outbreak. The exhibition features film, photography, sculpture and archives, exploring wells, reservoirs and their community impact. It prompts reflection on memory, monuments and the significance of water in sustaining life and shaping collective consciousness, fostering contemplation on personal and global connections to water, health and remembrance.
Phlegm: Pandemic Diary
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, artist Phlegm initiated a series of 67 pen and ink drawings, capturing his observations of life during lockdown. The Phlegm exhibition (until 7 July 2024) features these artworks that blend pandemic reality with Phlegm’s signature imaginary universe, featuring forest creatures, fantastical contraptions and hybrid cities. The series will be exhibited alongside pieces from the city’s art collection.
Ruskin Collection: Hand, Head and Heart
This exhibition (until 1 December 2024) showcases the ideals of Victorian artist and writer John Ruskin (1819–1900), focusing on his efforts to promote art and nature appreciation in Sheffield. Ruskin advocated for handmade goods, believing they fostered moral character and connected individuals to nature. This redisplay examines the contemporary relevance of handcrafting, featuring artworks from educational and therapeutic contexts. This exhibition will also see the unveiling of a new memorial quilt honouring Terry Higgins, the first known UK AIDS-related fatality.
Visiting the Millennium Gallery
The Millennium Gallery is close to Sheffield Hallam University, around midway between the railway station and the city centre. It adjoins the Winter Garden and it is very close to the Peace Gardens in the heart of the city.
The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday (it is closed on Mondays) and entry is free of charge.
Visitor facilities include a cafe and gift shop and its central location means that there are many other options to eat and drink nearby.
Allow a couple of hours for your visit.
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