Copying Cooper: Hidden Gems from the Cooper Gallery 

A new display at Experience Barnsley celebrates the creativity of Culture Companions and brings some of the Cooper Gallery’s hidden gems to life. 

Culture Companions, a weekly group for older people experiencing social isolation and other barriers to taking part in community life, have spent the year exploring paintings from the Cooper Gallery collection. Inspired by works ranging from a portrait of Queen Victoria to the humble subject of Water Joe, the group have researched the stories behind the paintings before recreating them through photography and short films, with the support of Michael Hardy and Sally Philburn. 

The project has given the group a chance to discover more about Barnsley’s collections while exploring their own creativity. Photographs from the project, taken by Jennifer Robertson, are now on display on the community wall outside the Sadler Room at Experience Barnsley. 

The display offers a unique opportunity to see some of the Cooper Gallery’s paintings brought to life, including works that are currently in storage and have not been displayed for several years. Videos and poetry from the project will also be added to the display, giving visitors even more ways to discover the stories behind the artworks. 

Culture Companions meet every week at Experience Barnsley, which they affectionately call their ‘second home’. Sessions are linked to local heritage, exhibitions and museum collections, with activities ranging from art and craft and heritage sessions to filmmaking, poetry and music, museum trips and wellbeing activities. 

Copying Cooper: Hidden Gems from the Cooper Gallery is on display during Experience Barnsley’s opening hours. 

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