Barnsley Museums & Heritage Trust Launches

The launch of the Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust will take place in the town’s award winning museum, Experience Barnsley, on Thursday 18 February.

The Trust has been established as a fundraising body for Barnsley Museums. It will not have responsibility for operating the museums or managing staff . The main objective of the organisation is to raise money to support the wonderful venues, collections and the activities and programmes run by the service.

Funds raised will enable Cannon Hall Museum Park and Gardens, Elsecar Heritage, Worsbrough Mill and Country Park, The Cooper Gallery and Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre to continue to develop and grow and to ensure they are sustainable for future generations to enjoy.

This will be done in various ways including providing match funding for grant funded projects such as Parks for People at Cannon Hall, to conserve fine and decorative art collections making them accessible to more people and also to enable more events and family learning activities to take place in the museums, as well as helping to ensure that the museums remain free for everyone to visit

It is hoped that local people and businesses will support the Trust in their aims.  By doing so they will help elevate Barnsley’s museums and galleries, making them even more enjoyable for people and communities.

Josie Thirkell, Chair of the Barnsley Museums Heritage Trust, said: “It is an exciting time for Barnsley’s museums and galleries. There are lots of fantastic exhibitions and events taking place and a lot of hard work has taken place to secure significant amounts of external funding to invest in and improve the attractions.  The service is ambitious in their objectives which is developing world class sites and are leading the way in their field. The borough’s museums and galleries are not only an important part of the town’s proud history but also essential to local families and communities.  The funds raised will develop these fantastic attractions, making them even more special places to visit.”

Cllr Roy Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place, said: “The launch of the Trust is a key milestone in the development of Barnsley’s magnificent museums and galleries.  Through the support of the Trust we will be able to achieve much more and continually improve the museums, all for the benefit of the town’s residents and visitors.”