Storying Barnsley

Storying Barnsley is Barnsley Council's 3-year Cultural Development Fund (CDF) engagement programme. CDF2 funding was awarded to Barnsley Council in 2022, and after a period of research and development, the Storying Barnsley team have now commenced work on a range of projects across the borough, alongside the CDF programme of capital works at Elsecar Heritage Centre, Forging Ahead.

Storying Barnsley aims to boost Barnsley’s cultural and creative sectors through partnerships and connectivity and offer unique cultural experiences for people living and visiting the town. This will be done through a co-produced and collaborative engagement programme that will offer vital support for local creative hubs and creative practitioners across Barnsley’s six Principal Towns and Elsecar. 

If you would like to get in touch with any queries or to find out more about this programme, please email StoryingBarnsley@barnsley.gov.uk

Get Involved

How to turn your hobby into a business (without losing the love)

How to turn your hobby into a business (without losing the love)

*Free workshops now available to book*

A series of Black Bee Creative outreach sessions and business workshops. The workshops will support Barnsley’s creative practitioners in taking the next step in their careers and turning their hobby into a profession/business.

Storying Barnsley Research Opportunity

Storying Barnsley Research Opportunity

The Storying Barnsley team are looking to commission a consultant to conduct a research project on Black, Asian and Global Ethnic Majority/Ethnically Diverse communities’ arts and culture engagement in Barnsley.

A Walk Around Town

A Walk Around Town

*Free workshops now available to book*

A Walk Around Town is a collaborative project by Patrick Murphy and Ian McMillan, connecting the six Principal Towns through workshops, new writing, and the production of a series of interactive place guides. Come and get creatively lost with us!

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Key Projects

Generations

Generations

*In Production*

This commission with Sam Batley aims to tell some of the stories that make up Barnsley, exploring the towns identity, landscape, culture and communities through film and photography.

Principal Townscapes

Principal Townscapes

*In Production*

Barnsley Council’s Cultural Development Fund team have commissioned 7 South Yorkshire-based artists with experience of community engagement to create the designs for ‘townscapes’, that will represent and give a flavour of Barnsley's Principal Towns.

Calling Barnsley

Calling Barnsley

*In Production*

LUNG are currently developing their newest project Calling Barnsley, set to be launched at the end of 2024.

ENGAGE / CREATE Live Commission Programme

ENGAGE / CREATE Live Commission Programme

*Programme now underway*

This programme offers the chance to co-create a new commissioned artwork with community groups in one of Barnsley’s six Principal Towns, with support from an experienced artist mentor.

Sanctuary of Colour

Sanctuary of Colour

Lenny & Whale brought their latest artwork ‘Sanctuary of Colour’ to Principal Towns over the summer of 2024.

Invisible Flock Barnsley Artist Residency

Invisible Flock Barnsley Artist Residency

Invisible Flock welcomed Tala Lee-Turton, Ailish Treanor and Spencer Hughes into their studio at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in August 2024 for the ten-day Barnsley Artist Residency programme.

Goldthorpe

Goldthorpe

Take a stroll through the Goldthorpe digital townscape and view artwork and images from Goldthorpe's young people.

Barnsley Treasures Workshops

Barnsley Treasures Workshops

Barnsley Council, Collective Sense, and seven amazing local artists and creative facilitators facilitated workshops across the borough in May and June 2024 to find out what culture means to people.

Mapping Barnsley

Mapping Barnsley

In 2023 CDF commissioned University of Sheffield (UoS) to map the creative and cultural industries sector based within Barnsley.

parler femme

parler femme

Barnsley's Tala Lee-Turton brought her latest production 'parler femme' to Elsecar Heritage Centre's Ironworks building in November 2023.

The Un-Naturalists Summer Tour

The Un-Naturalists Summer Tour

Markmark Productions brought bespoke The Un-Naturalists performances to each of Barnsley's Principal Towns and Elsecar over the summer of 2023.

Heart of the Wood

Heart of the Wood

The Big Reveal in conjunction with Barnsley Council, The Dearne Playhouse and the schools and community of the Dearne Valley created a spectacular of dance, music, song and drama in December 2023 after 18 months of engagement.

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