'I love this city and I will do until the day I die'

Already recognised as the country's official "city of sport", it's now vying with three rival contenders – Birmingham, Norwich and Derry – to

become the inaugural City of Culture in 2013. The eventual winner – expected to be announced in the summer – will not only bag a fancy title but could also host major events such as the Turner Prize and the Brit Awards.

Not only that, but the financial dividend is likely to be huge. When Liverpool had its year in the sun as the European Capital of Culture in 2008, an extra 800m was spent in the city, some of it by the 3.5

million first-time visitors who made their way to Merseyside. A record one million hotel beds were sold and occupancy rates over the year reached an unprecedented high of 77 per cent. It was impressive stuff and while the title may be slightly different, the UK City of Culture programme is confident it can replicate the same success.

Sheffield would certainly deserve such an accolade having undergone a transformation over the past 25 years, maintaining, where other cities have failed, the right balance between public and private investment. But what gives Sheffield, arguably more famous for industry and sport, than it is for culture, the edge?

Daniel Evans, artistic director at the Crucible Theatre, which has itself recently reopened after a 15.3m refurbishment programme, believes the city has successfully reinvented itself.

"There's a palpable sense of community and identity within the city," he says.

"Sheffield used to be a city that made things and it's fantastic to see how culture is playing a part in its regeneration. We have one of the best art house cinemas in the country and in a square mile area we have many galleries, museums and theatres.

"There's a real hive of activity that isn't perhaps noticed outside the city, because many people think of steel and football rather than the cultural offering when they think of Sheffield," he explains. "We're not like Leeds, we don't have a big opera company, but there's more of a grass roots feeling in Sheffield and maybe that means what's on offer is more closely connected to people in the community."

This week, Sheffield Hallam University hosted an event featuring songwriter and producer Eliot Kennedy, Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders, singer-songwriter Richard Hawley, artist Pete McKee and broadcaster and writer, Rony Robinson, in which they discussed their memories of Sheffield and what makes it special.

Kennedy, who has worked with some of the biggest names in pop and rock, including Bryan Adams and The Spice Girls, says the city's imprint is hard to shake off.

"The further away from Sheffield I go, the more Sheffield I get."

But it's not just those, like Kennedy, who are born there that fall under its spell.

"People come here with pre-conceived ideas of a dirty, industrial city, but most of them love it and it has the highest retention rate in the country of students who stay in the city afterwards, which tells you something."

There is a sense of togetherness, he says, which stems from its working-class origins.

"Sheffield has this reputation for a strong work ethic which takes a great deal of effort to achieve. It's a place where you care for your family and your people and that's something that has been passed down through the generations."

He believes that Sheffield has actually benefited from being seen by some as a bit of a cultural backwater.

"I think from an artistic point of view we are often overlooked because we're a long way from London and we're not as big as Manchester, or Birmingham, and as a result we're left to get on with things. In many ways we're the country's best kept secret because there is such a rich seam of artistic and creative talent that has come out of Sheffield."

At the same time, though, he says there is a healthy irreverence towards fame and celebrity in the city. "The common thread that unites people here is a sense of humour. It doesn't matter who you are, you're still from Sheffield and that's part of the deal. Being a celebrity doesn't matter in Sheffield, people aren't bothered if they see someone famous in Meadowhall."

Pete McKee agrees that this self-deprecating sense of humour is a trait of Sheffielders. He's become well known for his nostalgic images of Sheffield life and humorous sporting scenes, and frequently uses iconic images of the city, such as Henderson's Relish, in his artwork. "It's a visual device that people can relate to a particular time and place and to me that's important, because if a painting is biographical it should include the things around you."

McKee believes these are exciting times for the city. "People in Sheffield have never been handed anything on a plate and that's made us independent which you can see in the art and music. But although it's insular, it's also very welcoming and now we're not only cultural, we're multi-cultural."

Rony Robinson, a BBC Radio Sheffield presenter for the past 26 years, was born in Totley and has spent most of his life there. He believes part of Sheffield's charm is the fact it has remained what he calls "a big village." "For me, Sheffield is the right size, it's not too big and it has a really strong tradition of theatre and performance. I remember when the Student Games were held here and for three weeks the people of Sheffield were singing and dancing in the streets."

However, while Sheffield is enjoying a cultural renaissance at the moment, this has not always been the case. In 1999 the National Centre for Popular Music opened to a fanfare of hype, but what was supposed to be a celebration of pop music history quickly became a 15m white elephant, and within 12 months it had closed amid mounting debts and job losses.

This was something of an aberration in a city that has forged a reputation over the decades for musical excellence. Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders says his band and the songs that have made them famous are inextricably tied to the city. "The stories in the songs are based around Sheffield and the things we were getting up to. When we started out we realised we could rhyme different words to our accents and it gave us an identity."

Perhaps no other musician captures the spirit of Sheffield more than Richard Hawley, whose albums, including Coles Corner and Lady's Bridge, are a personal homage to the city where he grew up.

"I don't know what it's like to live in Paris, or Beijing, but I know what it's like to live in Pitsmoor and I can see beauty in the simple things. The uniqueness of Sheffield is what I love, its slant on things. My dad was a steelworker and they had hard, brutal lives but throughout that they retained this unshakable sense of humour that couldn't be broken. The attitude was you just went on and did it."

Perhaps above all else, what makes Sheffield special is the people, says Hawley. "I think if you lose your connections with where you're from you lose your roots, and I love the city and I will do until the day I die."

FIVE SHEFFIELD FAVOURITES

n Richard Hawley: Henderson's Relish factory. Located on Leavygreave

Road, the factory is home to a small, family-owned company which has been making its famous spicy sauce for more than a century.

n Pete McKee: Kelham Island. Situated alongside the River Don, it is home to an industrial museum and the city's largest remaining brewery.

n Eliot Kennedy: City Hall. Constructed out of Darley Dale stone, the city hall was opened in 1932 and hosts more than 600 events each year.

n Matt Helders: Botanical Gardens. This 19-acre site was originally laid out in 1836 and the gardens, which include the stunning glass pavilions, are Grade II listed by English Heritage.

n Rony Robinson: Totley. A leafy suburb to the south of the city and one of Sheffield's most upmarket addresses.