Barnsley Libraries will be celebrating music with an exciting three-month programme starting this April.

Biblio Beats Festival will run over April, May and June this year and deliver activities and events across all our libraries.

As part of the festival, an award-winning producer of musical events and activities for young children and their adults, Concerteenies, will run music sessions for children aged 0-7. We Great Ladies, performers and visual art artists, have been confirmed as the Artists in Residence and will work with young people who might not usually access music. A series of music workshops, concerts and other events will also run throughout the festival, including community takeovers where community bands, choirs and music groups will be invited to use libraries space to showcase their organisation.

Cllr Caroline Makinson, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “We are incredibly excited to be able to deliver and bring the Biblio Beats Festival to our local communities.

“As community hubs, our libraries are there to provide local people with more than just a place to borrow books from, and the Biblio Beats Festival will once again showcase the flexibility and variety that Barnsley Libraries can offer.

“I’m sure everyone in our communities will find something of their interest and get involved in a three-month programme.”

As part of the programme, we are currently accepting applications for two artist takeovers. The artist takeovers, Motifs, will allow local artists to showcase their work or create new work inspired by library spaces or Home Library Service. For more information and details on how to apply, please visit the Arts Council England Jobs website.

We are working hard to finalise the last details, and more information about the Biblio Beats Festival will be published nearer the time on our social media channels and the website.

The programme is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.