Latest News
Creativity in Action: A Round-Up from Fusion
12th November 2026
From behind-the-scenes museum experiences and youth-led gaming events to celebrating creativity on the big screen, Fusion has been helping young people across Barnsley discover their talents and make their mark. Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust are proud to be a … Continue reading
National Gallery masterpiece comes to Barnsley in landmark exhibition
A beautiful masterpiece from the National Gallery collection will go on display in Barnsley this autumn as the Cooper Gallery presents The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, Mignard: Love, Power, Identity, a major new exhibition exploring themes of status, self-image and … Continue reading
Celebrating Artistic Excellence Across South Yorkshire
The Cooper Prize is back for 2027, and we’re inviting individuals and businesses to get involved! Whether you’re looking to take on the challenge and compete for the prize or would like to show your support by becoming a sponsor, … Continue reading
Barnsley Bright Nights returns for its ninth year to light up Barnsley town centre
Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November 2026, 5pm-8.30pm Barnsley Bright Nights returns to the town centre for two evenings of light, art and live performances, transforming familiar spaces into colourful, immersive experiences for visitors of all ages. With installations, large-scale … Continue reading
Help Us Give Books a New Chapter
Do you work for or own a company that’s looking to give back to the community? We’re looking for businesses to contribute to our Book Buddy Scheme. See below for more: You don’t have to be a business to get … Continue reading
Civic 150 Pop-up Archives, Wombwell Library, Monday 23rd November, 10am–1pm
Join Barnsley Archives and Local Studies and Barnsley Civic at Wombwell Library for an opportunity to explore your family history and discover more about Barnsley’s past! On Monday 23rd November, from 10am to1pm, the Barnsley Archives team will be on … Continue reading
National Gallery Masterpiece Tour – Barnsley College Exhibition
14th Nov 2026 – 20th Feb 2027 Barnsley Museums are delighted to present a selection of brand-new artworks by Art and Design students at Barnsley College created in response to the paintings in Love, Power, Identity. Inspired by The Marquise … Continue reading
Christmas at Cannon Hall: A Festive Season to Remember
There’s something rather special about visiting Cannon Hall at Christmas. As the festive season arrives, this beautiful historic house is transformed with Christmas decorations, creating a lovely setting for a winter visit. From the moment you step inside, you’ll find … Continue reading
From Christmas Markets to Comedy Nights: What’s On?
There are still plenty of reasons to get out and about across Barnsley Museums as we head towards Christmas. Whether you’re starting to think about Christmas shopping, fancy getting crafty or simply want an excuse to leave the house for … Continue reading
Study Day – Cleopatra and the Queens of Egypt with Professor Joann Fletcher and Curator Ian Trumble
28th November 2026 To celebrate the remarkable exhibition, Cleopatra and the Queens of Egypt, this Study Day provides a unique opportunity to journey through Cleopatra’s life and discover the inspiring women who shaped her story. The event will take place … Continue reading
Cannon Hall Gardens awarded platinum by Yorkshire in Bloom
19th October 2026
Cannon Hall Park and Gardens has been received a Platinum Award and been named Joint Category Winner in this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition. This award recognises the people whose dedication helps make Barnsley’s parks, gardens and community spaces … Continue reading
Relief Learning Assistant Posts at Barnsley Museums
Barnsley Museums are seeking to recruit Relief Learning assistants to work in their award-winning Learning Team to support the delivery of their offer to schools, families and communities, to increase engagement with the museums and collections and to diversify their … Continue reading
Discover Barnsley’s History Through the Latest Natters Podcast
The latest episode of the Barnsley Museums Natters podcast is available to listen to now, featuring a fascinating archive interview with renowned Yorkshire artist Ashley Jackson, recorded in 1983. Born in Barnsley, Ashley Jackson is best known for his stunning … Continue reading
A Spooky Makeover at Cannon Hall Museum!
Our pre-loved bookshop at Cannon Hall Museum has had a spooky makeover, just in time for Halloween! Halloween dates back over 2,000 years, and while our books might not be quite that old, there are plenty of interesting reads waiting … Continue reading
Cannon Hall Volunteer Summer 2026
“I’m Nerile Jurgutaviciute and I’m a 3rd year history student at the University of Sheffield. I’ve been volunteering at Cannon Hall over the summer break. I wanted to volunteer as a way of being more actively engage in historical work … Continue reading
October Events in Barnsley
Looking for something to do with the kids this October half term? Barnsley Museums have a fantastic range of events and activities taking place across all five sites this October. From exploring exhibitions and following spooky ghost trails to browsing … Continue reading
Wentworth Castle Gardens Awarded Grant
Wentworth Castle Gardens have been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to consult with communities about the historic walled garden. The National Trust at Wentworth Castle Gardens has been awarded £29,175 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund … Continue reading
The Blessing of the Chalice: 800-year-old chalice returns to Monk Bretton Priory
Last month, the Bishop of Wakefield, the Right Reverend Malcolm Chamberlain, visited Monk Bretton Priory to celebrate the history of this ancient site with the blessing of a holy chalice. The remains of the original 13th century chalice, excavated from … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust launches the Bookshop Buddy initiative at Cannon Hall Museum
1st October 2026
Tucked away in the beautiful Walled Garden at Cannon Hall Museum, our Pre-Loved Bookshop gives donated books a second life while raising valuable funds to support Barnsley’s museums, heritage and local communities. The bookshop currently raises around £4,500 each year, … Continue reading
From Bayeux to Barnsley: The Story of Cannon Hall’s Tapestry
17th September 2026
The Bayeux Tapestry is making history once again. Nearly 1,000 years after it was created, the famous 7-metre-long embroidery is on public display in the UK for the first time since its creation. Made in the 11th century, the tapestry … Continue reading
Conserving the History of Cannon Hall Museum
Curating an exhibition about the history of Cannon Hall is a fantastic way to bring together many different objects. It has been wonderful to be able to display some of the collection for the first time, such as this 17th … Continue reading
Your Guide to Events in Barnsley
Think summer is over? There’s still plenty happening across Barnsley this September and October. From family-friendly activities and exhibitions to seasonal events and things to do with friends, there’s lots to get involved with as we head into autumn. Whether … Continue reading
Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days continue in Barnsley until 20th September, with a fantastic programme of free events. The national festival celebrates local history, architecture, culture and community stories, offering unique opportunities to explore some of Barnsley’s most fascinating historic sites. See … Continue reading
Studio Prints: Creative Collaboration
Discover the world of Studio Prints through a new exhibition celebrating the Balakjian Collection. Gifted to the Cooper Gallery through Arts Council England’s Cultural Gifts Scheme, the newly acquired group of prints, plates, and drawings offer a glimpse into the … Continue reading
New exhibition invites visitors to see Cannon Hall through the eyes of artists
Visitors to Cannon Hall can enjoy a new exhibition this autumn that celebrates the halls, gardens and hidden stories of one of Barnsley’s most loved heritage sites. ‘Leeds Fine Artists x Cannon Hall’ will run from Saturday 26 September 2026 … Continue reading
