FUSION Arts Award Celebration Event

Sara Mair, Barnsley Cultural Education Partnership Co-ordinator

Close to 300 people gathered at Horizon this summer to celebrate the Arts Award Pilot led by FUSION – Barnsley Cultural Education Partnership.

The event was a celebration of children’s work towards their Arts Award and was heart-warming to see what a difference taking part in the Arts Awards had made to them. As well as councillors and the Mayor of Barnsley, the event was attended by Barnsley’s Poet Laureate Eloise Unnerman, who gave an inspirational speech about her motivations for being a writer.

This has been a pilot project between 6 local schools and Barnsley’s Cultural Organisations taking a joined-up approach to delivering Arts Award. The schools have reported extremely positive impacts on attitudes to learning, engagement, depth of learning and creativity.

This pilot was subsidised by a one-off contribution from IVE / ARTS COUNCIL as part of the Barnsley Cultural Education Partnership. It is hoped that external funds can be raised to help reduce the costs to schools wishing to participate.

FUSION is Barnsley’s Cultural Education Partnership (BCEP), providing a joined-up local arts and cultural offer so ALL children and young people in Barnsley have the chance to access high-quality arts and culture.

The partnership consists of local arts, education and culture providers, including The Civic, Lamproom Theatre, Music in the Round, The National Trust at Wentworth Castle Gardens, Music Hub, schools across the borough and BMBC teams including museums and libraries, early years, children and families, sport and active lifestyles. The partnership, and flagship projects like the Arts Award pilot, are an important priority for Barnsley Museums as an Arts Council England NPO organisation. 

To find out more about the partnership head to Facebook or Twitter: @FUSIONBCEP and don’t forget to like and share! Or contact saramair@barnsley.gov.uk