Cracking Ceramics!

Young people in Barnsley are being given the opportunity to develop their creative and digital skills.

Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust secured £2,500 in funding from Barnsley Better Bond towards the ‘Cracking Ceramics!’ project, part of which works with looked after children and young people in the borough to create new digital resources.

The three-year project, which runs to July 2019, is linked to Cannon Hall Museum’s outstanding ceramics collection – introducing a new perspective on how collections are interpreted and displayed in the museum. The project received a grant from the Esmee Fairburn Collections Fund, delivered by the Museums Association.

Around 40 looked after children aged 8 to 16 have already taken part in workshops focused on creative arts and digital activities at Cannon Hall and partner venues.

The children from the Care4Us Council and Barnsley Youth Council are developing their own interpretations of the collections, including contributing ideas for a digital game which will be available at the museum in early 2019.

Natalie Murray, Collections and Exhibitions Manager at Barnsley Museums, said: “The project is a great way to connect with children and directly involve them in creating new digital interpretation. Not only do they learn new digital skills, but they can devise new digital displays for young visitors and families to discover collections in the museum.

“It has also provided an opportunity for us to explore how digital technologies can be incorporated into our five heritage attractions in the borough.”

As part of the project a series of creative and digital-themed workshops and activities will take place with organised groups and families over the next nine months. Pupils from Barnsley College will also take part in a programme of filming workshops with a local artist.

Better Barnsley Bond is a funding pot set up by Henry Boot and Barnsley Council which supports training, employment and local community initiatives in the Barnsley area.