Latest News
Where would you hide an elephant?
5th November 2021
In Barnsley’s principal towns of course! You may remember that we wrote about receiving an Arts Council National Lottery Project grant back in July, to enable Elmer the Elephant themed sculptures to be installed in Barnsley’s 6 principal towns. The … Continue reading
Routed at Experience Barnsley, Barnsley Town Hall 23rd October 2021 – 26th March 2022
4th November 2021
“beautiful, and funny, and heart-warming” The Routed exhibition is currently at Experience Barnsley, and celebrates people, places and memories associated with Barnsley town centre, through writing, illustration, objects, poetry, photography, music and sculpture. This vibrant exhibition presents heritage using contemporary … Continue reading
Little Amal visits Wentworth Castle Gardens
3rd November 2021
Little Amal is a 3.5 metre-tall puppet of a young Syrian refugee child, at the heart of ‘The Walk’. Over the summer and autumn of 2021, she walked over 8,000km across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, the UK and Barnsley to … Continue reading
New Developments at Worsbrough Mill
2nd November 2021
Have you been to the new shop and visitor space at Worsbrough Mill yet? Earlier this year the Mill received a grant from the Culture Recovery Fund which has made important developments to the site possible. The money was used … Continue reading
Forthcoming events at Elsecar Heritage Centre
13th October 2021
It’s lovely to have events in full swing at Elsecar Heritage Centre again and here are details of what’s coming up in the next few weeks. SUPPA CLUB Barnsley’s dedicated street food, craft beer and live music event where you … Continue reading
Worsbrough Young Volunteers
11th October 2021
Whilst volunteering has seen its ups and downs over the last 18 months, one of the definite ups has to be welcoming back our award-winning Youth Action at Worsbrough Mill volunteers this month. Raring to go as always, the group … Continue reading
Halloween activities at half term
8th October 2021
We can hardly believe it is almost half term already! Barnsley Museums have plenty of activities to keep the little – and not so little – ones entertained during the school holidays. Download the Halloween leaflet here:
Museum of the Year Awards 2021
6th October 2021
We had all our fingers crossed on the evening of the 21st September, hopeful that our friends at Experience Barnsley would win this prestigious national award. Sadly, it was not to be, but we are immensely proud that their achievement … Continue reading
Help Cannon Hall Gardens Grow
4th October 2021
If you have visited the walled garden at Cannon Hall recently, you may have spotted our beautiful new celebration tree sculpture. The tree is designed to help people to remember special times or to mark one of life’s major milestones. … Continue reading
Barnsley to host exhibition by world-famous artists
2nd October 2021
Drawings by some of the world’s most famous artists have arrived in Barnsley as part of a major British Museum touring exhibition. The town’s Cooper Gallery is hosting works by Tracey Emin, David Hockney, Grayson Perry, Anish Kapoor, Bridget Riley … Continue reading
Elsecar archaeological project wins national award
7th September 2021
An innovative archaeology project ‘Digging the Earl’s Great Engine’, led by Barnsley Museums at Elsecar Heritage Centre, has won a prestigious national award from the Association of Industrial Archaeology (AIA) for its creative community engagement. This year it was judged … Continue reading
Worsbrough Wet Woodland Rescue and Rediscovery
We were fortunate enough to secure funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in October 2019 for the conservation and development of Worsbrough Mill and Country Park. As the project is drawing to a close, here is an update of … Continue reading
Massive leap forward for Barnsley Archives!
6th September 2021
Barnsley Archives and Local Studies, based in the Discovery Centre alongside the Experience Barnsley Museum, achieved a long-term ambition in 2020 – bringing all the collections under one roof for the first time. Having all the collections together had been … Continue reading
Northern College retains independence and launches new course programme
5th September 2021
The future is bright at Northern College. As the only adult residential college in the North, Northern College has retained its independence and is here to stay, with secured funding to support adults to re-enter education and transform their lives. … Continue reading
North Range Glass House – Further Renovation
3rd September 2021
The Parks for People Project is coming to an end with work relating to this completed in August. Visitors can enjoy all areas of the parkland, go hunting for monsters, capture a fairy, get close up and personal with a … Continue reading
Contemporary drawings to tour the UK in first-time co-curated exhibition
2nd September 2021
For the first time, the British Museum has co-curated an exhibition with partner museums from around the UK to display and tour contemporary artworks from its Prints and Drawings collection. Pushing paper: contemporary drawing from 1970 to now illustrates how … Continue reading
£3.8m project is restoring the glory of Barnsley’s historic attraction
1st September 2021
A giant willow monster inspired by scrapbooks recently unearthed is just one of a series of new attractions following nearly £4m worth of investment at a Barnsley beauty spot. The Park and Gardens have become extremely popular in 2020 thanks … Continue reading
Barnsley’s Ancient Stone Head – An update
30th August 2021
You might remember reading about an ancient stone head in the Barnsley collections with very little accompanying provenance in an earlier newsletter. We are pleased to say that, after a public vote, the mysterious stone head is no longer nameless … Continue reading
25 things to do in Barnsley this summer
9th August 2021
We have compiled a list of 25 things to do in Barnsley this summer, ranging from activities to places of interest, all right on your doorstep, in Barnsley. Can you find our magical wishing tree at Cannon Hall? Head to … Continue reading
Fake Or Fortune comes to the Cooper Gallery
5th August 2021
Did you catch the recent TV programme, Fake or Fortune on BBC1 recently which featured the Cooper Gallery? The presenters viewed sketches purchased by Samuel Joshua Cooper and to view Mr Cooper’s notebook as part of an investigation into a … Continue reading
Prestigious Award Finalist 2021
4th August 2021
Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre is a finalist for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2021! With a total prize fund of £160,000, Art Fund Museum of the Year is the world’s biggest museum prize. It champions museums … Continue reading
Cooper Prize – People’s Choice Award Winner Announced
13th July 2021
The Cooper Gallery has announced five most popular art works of the Cooper Prize, ‘Peoples’ Choice’ award, as chosen by the public. The Cooper Prize exhibition launched in March 2021 when the Gallery was closed due to Covid restrictions, … Continue reading
Funding Secured to Create Elmer the Elephant Trail across Barnsley
9th July 2021
Elmer the elephant is packing his trunk and will be travelling around Barnsley, spreading joy as he goes, thanks to funding from the Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant. Barnsley Museums have secured £95,000 which will be used to work … Continue reading
Help Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust Raise Funds through Easy Fundraising
7th July 2021
We’ve registered Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust with Easyfundraising, which means over 5,200 shops and sites will now donate to us for FREE every time you use Easyfundraising to shop with them. These donations will help SO MUCH, so please … Continue reading
Barnsley Museums Win Prestigious Digital Award
6th July 2021
Barnsley Museums have been voted highly commended in the Museums and Heritage Awards 2021 in the category, Best Use of Digital. The Museums were delighted to be recognised for their outstanding digital output which they shared with audiences throughout the … Continue reading