Latest News
New exhibition at the Cooper Gallery showcases artworks by world renowned artists from JMW Turner to Bloomsbury’s Vanessa Bell
17th July 2025
The Cooper Gallery is delighted to announce an upcoming free exhibition, Barnsley’s Radical Collector: The Sadler Gift from Turner to Bloomsbury, which will be held from Saturday 19 July 2025, until Saturday 3 January 2026. Barnsley’s Radical Collector: The Sadler … Continue reading
Brand new visitor centre unveiled at Elsecar
Thursday 10 July 2025 saw the exciting opening of a brand-new Visitor Centre at Elsecar Heritage Centre. The new Visitor Centre is designed to help visitors uncover 250 years of Elsecar’s fascinating history and the compelling stories of the … Continue reading
Exciting New Volunteering Opportunities at Cannon Hall Museum
Interested in volunteering at a Georgian country house museum surrounded by 70 acres of historic parkland? Cannon Hall Museum is looking for Visitor Welcome volunteers to help greet visitors, chat to them and answer any questions and gather their feedback. … Continue reading
Two Barnsley Museums sites shortlisted for national Family Friendly Museum Award
We are delighted to announce that Barnsley Museums has been shortlisted twice for the Family Friendly Museum Award 2025! This includes shortlisting for: · Worsbrough Mill Museum and Country Park for Best Accessible Museum · Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums Summer Holiday Workshops 2025
This summer, from 22 July to 1 September 2025, Barnsley Museums is full of fun activities for families. Across five museum sites, you’ll find exciting trails, creative workshops, and sensory sessions perfect for kids of all ages. At Worsbrough Mill, … Continue reading
New Community Art Display in Experience Barnsley
Experience Barnsley are delighted to showcase artworks created by Patricia Wroe and Peter Hardy on a new community focused gallery wall in the museum. The team at Deangate Care Home in Mapplewell contacted the museum after discovering the artistic talents … Continue reading
Barnsley Archives’ Conservation programme – The History of Wombwell
Barnsley Archives and Local Studies have an ongoing conservation programme to ensure that the 4000 collections in our custody can still be safely used by researchers many years, decades and centuries from now. The programme is a crucial part of … Continue reading
The Grasslands Project at Wentworth Castle Gardens
The Grasslands Project was inspired by THE HERDS (www.theherds.org), a groundbreaking public art and climate initiative brought to life by the team behind Little Amal. Lifesize puppets of animals journeyed through cities on a 20,000km journey from the Congo Basin … Continue reading
Barnsley Libraries and Museums celebrated as places of sanctuary
Barnsley Libraries and Barnsley Museums have recently been recognised as places of sanctuary and were presented with the Libraries of Sanctuary and Museum of Sanctuary awards. These awards are a fantastic achievement for their teams and recognise the support offered … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums Celebrates Record-Breaking Milestone of Two Million Visitors
17th June 2025
Barnsley Museums is thrilled to announce a historic achievement, welcoming two million visitors in 2024-25. This is the first time, in the council’s records, that the Museums service has reached this number in a year. It beats last year’s 1.9 … Continue reading
Records of the West Riding of Yorkshire Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund Accessible for the First Time
What do Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee, French President Emile Loubet and Swedish screen legend Greta Garbo all have in common? The answer is that they all get a mention in the brand-new catalogue of the historic records … Continue reading
Dearne Youth Legacy Project
Dearne e-gaming tournament Fusion is leading the Dearne Youth Legacy Project, building on the success of Heart of the Wood and Storying Goldthorpe (https://www.barnsley-museums.com/projects/storying-barnsley/heart-of-the-wood). The project is using research and testing through pilot engagement activity to develop and consolidate thinking … Continue reading
Know Your Neighbourhood Project 2025 – Activities and Events
Looking to get creative? Every Wednesday in June, from 10am until 12pm, in the Sadler Room at the Cooper Gallery, you can make your own masterpiece with artists Sally Philburn and Julia Woodhall. Create different types of artwork in a … Continue reading
Little John’s Longbow at Cannon Hall
One of the most popular items on display at Cannon Hall Museum is ‘Little John’s’ bow. According to Spencer Stanhope family tradition, this longbow belonged to Little John, the legendary tall man from Robin Hood’s band of ‘merry men’ in … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums Exhibitions Online
If you’re interested in the latest exhibitions but cannot get to see them in person, did you know that you can now view them online? Christy Keeney: Formed and Reformed at Cannon Hall and Barnsley in Sight: Leeds Fine Artists … Continue reading
Summer Events at Wentworth Castle Gardens
A brand-new summer art installation created by local artists Jo Veal, Patrick Amber and the local community will be arriving at Wentworth Castle Gardens this summer. Inspired by The HERDS project, a groundbreaking public art and climate initiative, and our … Continue reading
Worsbrough Mill Museum and Country Park takes part in national event to celebrate 400-year anniversary
8th May 2025
Worsbrough Mill Museum and Country Park are continuing the celebrations of its 400-year anniversary with an action-packed programme of family-friendly activities on Saturday, 10 May, as part of National Mills Weekend. National Mills Weekend is an annual event where visitors … Continue reading
Discover the Vibrant World of Christy Keeney: Formed and Reformed at Cannon Hall Museum
Get ready to unleash your creativity this summer at Cannon Hall Museum with the exciting exhibition, Christy Keeney: Formed and Reformed, starting on Saturday, 17 May to 28 September 2025 We invite everyone—whether you’re an art lover, a family looking for … Continue reading
VE Day 80: Barnsley Remembers
On 8 May 1945 the lights on Barnsley town hall were switched back on and street parties took place across the borough. From the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 until victory in 1945, Barnsley was deeply affected … Continue reading
Voices Blooming at Wentworth Castle Gardens
10th May 2025 11.30am – 2.30pm As the gardens bloom into colour, enjoy uplifting music from community choirs during your visit to Wentworth Castle Gardens. Following on from last year’s successful event, community choirs will be coming together to celebrate … Continue reading
Joanne Harris in Conversation – Including Book Signing
Step into a world of secrets, chocolate, and enchantment as bestselling author Joanne Harris returns to the story that captured hearts. Joanne Harris in Conversation promises an evening of magic and discovery, as she reveals the untold past of Vianne … Continue reading
Fusion’s Arts Award Explore receives funding from Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust
Funding has recently been awarded by Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust to Fusion, Barnsley’s Local Cultural Education Partnership, to enable them to expand the excellent work achieved under the Arts Award Explore programme, delivered as part of the Festival of … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums Job Vacancy – Formal Learning and Access Officer
Barnsley Museums Service currently has a vacancy for a Formal Learning and Access Officer. If you think this might be the job for you, read on! Please note that the closing date is Friday 9th May at 23.59pm, so you … Continue reading
Calling all Creatives!
Would you like to help celebrate Worsbrough Mill’s 400-year anniversary through a unique creative project? There are two paid commissions available for artists working in any medium, offering a fantastic opportunity to contribute to this historic occasion. Proposals must be … Continue reading
Medieval Mayhem Returns to Monk Bretton Priory
The popular Medieval Mayhem weekend returns to Monk Bretton’s famous Bretton Priory for its fifth year on May 17th and 18th. Monk Bretton Priory’s 12th-century remains will come alive with battling knights, jolly jesters and all manner of merriment, with … Continue reading
