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
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Calling Barnsley Saturday Workshops
LUNG is proud to be offering free creative workshops at Barnsley Civic. With drop in arts, crafts and writing activities there is something for something for everyone. Bring the family, try something new and let’s get creative!
Every Saturday from January to March 2025
Key Projects
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Calling Barnsley
Theatre company LUNG are giving everyone the chance to hear Barnsley's untold stories.
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A Barnsley Story
This film and photography 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.
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ENGAGE / CREATE
In partnership with Beam we have selected six South Yorkshire artists and creative practitioners to work with people in Barnsley's Principal Towns over the coming months to co-create new artwork.
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A Walk Around Town
A Walk Around Town is a collaborative project by Patrick Murphy and Ian McMillan, connecting the Barnsley's 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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Principal Townscapes
Barnsley Council’s Cultural Development Fund team commissioned 7 South Yorkshire-based artists with experience of community engagement to create the designs for ‘townscapes’, that give a flavour of Barnsley's Principal Towns.
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How to turn your hobby into a business (without losing the love)
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.
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Mapping Barnsley
In 2023 CDF commissioned University of Sheffield (UoS) to map the creative and cultural industries sector based within Barnsley.
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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.
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Sanctuary of Colour
Lenny & Whale brought their latest artwork ‘Sanctuary of Colour’ to Principal Towns over the summer of 2024.
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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.
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parler femme
Barnsley's Tala Lee-Turton brought her latest production 'parler femme' to Elsecar Heritage Centre's Ironworks building in November 2023.
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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.
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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.