A series of pop-up exhibitions celebrating three years of creativity across our Barnsley communities will be launched on 7 March.
The Storying Barnsley programme has supported a wealth of creative activity, primarily across the towns of Cudworth, Goldthorpe, Hoyland, Penistone, Royston and Wombwell.
Now we are preparing to put on show a stunning selection of the work produced by our talented artists and residents.
Barnsley Civic will host an exhibition by photographer Sam Batley, titled A Barnsley Story, and an immersive installation from Lenny and Whale, whose Sanctuary of Colour activities engaged audiences around the borough last summer.
The Civic is also the place to experience Calling Barnsley, a bespoke phone box where you can hear evocative stories recorded by Barnsley College students, as well as examples of community created ‘townscapes’ and walking maps.
Library @ The Lightbox will host a textile installation created by artist Izzy Dabiri with Wombwell community groups.
Around the indoor market, there will be 3D sculptures giving a taste of artist Patrick Murphy’s upcoming virtual art trail – ARtQuest for Barnsley.
People exploring the trail, due to be launched later in the spring across our Principal Towns, will be able to scan QR codes to discover augmented reality creatures representing iconic beasts from Barnsley’s history, with a soundscape narrated by poet Ian McMillan.
Film-maker Sam Batley’s documentary ‘The Town I Love So Well’ - filmed in and around Goldthorpe and across Barnsley – will have its premiere at the Parkway Cinema on 17 March.
From 7 March to 11 April, Library @ The Lightbox will display large scale portraits of Barnsley’s creative community by photographer Sean O’Connell.
Following the town centre launch, many of the exhibits will be shared in towns and high streets across the Barnsley borough.
Come along to experience the diverse range of artwork and projects and see how Storying Barnsley has put our Barnsley communities firmly on the map.”
Programme of events
At Barnsley Civic
Sam Batley ‘A Barnsley Story’: 7 March – 28 March 2025
Lenny & Whale ‘Sanctuary of Colour’ 7 March – 11 April 2025
LUNG ‘Calling Barnsley’: 7 March – 11 April 2025
Opening times: Monday to Saturday: 10am – 4pm; Sunday: Closed.
At Barnsley Library @ The Lightbox
Sean O’Connell ‘Portraits of Barnsley Artists’: 7 March – 11 April 2025
Izzy Dabiri ‘ENGAGE / CREATE’: 7 March – 11 April 2025
Opening times: Monday: 9am – 7pm, Tuesday: 9am – 5pm, Wednesday: 9am – 7pm, Thursday: 9am – 5pm, Friday: 9am – 5pm, Saturday: 9:30am – 4pm; Sunday: Closed.
At Barnsley Market
‘ARtQuest for Barnsley’: 7 March – 11 April 2025
Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 8:30am – 4:30pm; Sunday: Closed
Storying Barnsley is Barnsley Council's three-year Cultural Development Fund engagement programme, funded by Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport and administered by Arts Council England.
Funding was awarded to Barnsley Council in 2022 and after a period of research and development, the Storying Barnsley team started work on a range of projects across the borough, alongside the CDF2 programme of capital works at Elsecar Heritage Centre, Forging Ahead.